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

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.