Does BPPV affect the psychological state of patients?

Background Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is recognized as one of the most prevalent peripheral vestibular disorders, with a one-year prevalence rate of 1.6% and a lifetime prevalence rate of 2.4%. Objective to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression in BPPV patients. Methods This study comprised 385 participants with BPPV and 385 normal controls. all participants subjected to full history taking, basic audiological evaluation, videonystagmography, Arabic version of Dizziness handicap inventory and Arabic version of Hospital anxiety and depression scale. Results There were insignificant differences between patients and controls regarding their sex and age distribution. In this study 227 (59%) of patients have anxiety and 117 (30.4%) of patients have depression. There was no statistically significant difference between patients and controls regarding anxiety and depression before BPPV attack. There was a statistically significant increase in anxiety and depression in patients during the attack than before the attack and after treatment. There was a significant correlation between the score of anxiety and depression with the duration of the BPPV course, number of attacks and DHI score, also depression score showed positive correlation with anxiety score. The severity of DHI was significantly correlated with anxiety and depression. Conclusion The current study revealed a high prevalence of anxiety and depression in BPPV group which was significantly correlated with duration of disease, recurrence of attacks and DHI score. Anxiety and depression should be treated concurrently with BPPV to improve the outcome of treatment and quality of life.