Citation

Inukai K, Yamamoto Y, Takahashi S. Practica Otologica 2009; 102(12): 1005-1009.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009)

DOI

10.5631/jibirin.102.1005

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Otolaryngologists often have difficulty in examining persons suffering from vertigo or dizziness who also have psychiatric problems. Depression-the most frequent cause of suicide-is especially likely to be overlooked in daily intervention. We investigated how those who were potentially depressed and also vertiginous consulted otolaryngologists using the Self-Rating Questionnaire for Depression (SRQ-D). We used the SRQ-D to survey 194 vertiginous persons-114 with idiopathic vertigo, 40 with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and 40 with Meniere's disease. Controls were 194 non-vertiginous persons matched by gender and age. Subjects were grouped based on SRQ-D scores, i.e. those scoring 16 or more points (positive) and those scoring 15 or fewer points. Chi-square tests were conducted. Positivity among vertiginous subjects was 13. 4% and that among control subjects 2.1%. Positivity among those with idiopathic vertigo was 12. 3% and that among control subjects 1. 8%. Positivity among those with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo was 7. 5% and that among control subjects 2. 5%. Positivity among those with Meniere's disease was 22. 5% and that among control subjects 2. 5%. Positivity among subjects who were vertiginous (p<0. 01), had idiopathic vertigo (p<0. 01), and had Meniere's disease (p<0. 05) was thus significantly higher than among control subjects. SRQ-D is therefore considered useful in identifying those suspected of depression among vertiginous patients to advise them to seek psychiatric counseling.

Language: ja

Keywords

Suicide; Idiopathic vertigo; Meniere's disease; Psychiatric counseling; SRQ-D