Psychological consequences of vertigo and the effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation for brain injury patients

Abstract

This research evaluated the effectiveness of a multidimensional psychological approach towards vestibular rehabilitation. The sample included 18 patients with vertigo due to acquired brain injury. Patients were assessed for vestibular disorder and referred to the therapy programme. They acted as their own controls. The therapy consisted of a behavioural exposure programme to movements and activities which provoked vertigo and anxiety in order to facilitate compensation of vestibular dysfunction and habituation to physical anxiety symptoms. Outcome measures included self-rating questionnaires and sway-monitor to assess vertigo and balance, emotional distress, vertigo handicap and coping strategies. This vestibular rehabilitation programme proved very effective and beneficial for the 18 patients, as their scores on measures of vertigo symptoms, handicap, emotional distress, physical flexibility and postural stability improved significantly post-therapy in comparison to no improvement during a waiting list period.