Depressive Symptoms Underestimated in Vertiginous Patients

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of depression in a group of vertiginous patients gathered by the use of a questionnaire. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective study on 100 randomly selected vertiginous individuals, who were invited for further investigations to the Helsinki University ENT clinic. They also filled in a Beck Depression Index, Zung anxiety scale and DIP-Q, which are self-rating scales to investigate psychiatric symptoms. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression was 19%, and affected more men than women No significant differences appeared in ENT diagnoses or symptoms between depressed and nondepressed patients. Depression correlated positively with vertiginous relatives (P < 0.01) and subjective sense of disability (P < 0.01). Of depressed vertiginous patients, 89% were without appropriate antidepressive care. CONCLUSION: Nearly 20% of vertiginous patients also have depressive symptoms. Assessment of psychiatric and psychosomatic symptoms should accompany neuro-otologic evaluation to achieve the best treatment strategy and prevent chronic outcome.