Res Vestib Sci.  2010 Jun;9(2):70-75.

Assessment of Anxiety using Beck's Anxiety Inventory in Patients with Vestibular Neuritis

• Kim JY
• Ahn SK
• Kwon OJ
• Cho SY
• Hur DG
• Jeon SY
• Kim DW

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The intimate relationship of vertigo and anxiety has been previously recognized. Anxiety may have an important influence on recovery of symptoms in vestibular neuritis (VN). The aim of study was to evaluate subjective anxiety of the pre-VN, at the time of onset of VN, and just after vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) using Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaire, respectively.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with VN were asked to complete the BAI and dizziness handicap inventory (DHI). Each of the BAI and DHI was scored. We also evaluated the relationship between the DHI and BAI scores.
RESULTS
The VN patients at the time of attack had significantly more anxiety with vertigo and related symptoms (p<0.05). In most patients, anxiety level decreased following VRT.
CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that almost every VN patients can recovery from anxiety as vertigo regressed. However, the emotional support as well as physical and/or functional rehabilitation may be required to provide a more rapid and complete return to normal daily lives for these patients.

Keyword

Vestibular neuritis; Anxiety; Questionnaire

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Dizziness
Humans
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vertigo
Vestibular Neuronitis