Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy Outcomes in Patients With Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness

Abstract

Objectives:: Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) represents an important category of vertigo. Medical treatment and psychotherapy provide convenient control of symptoms. However, these management strategies can have inconvenient side effects and short-term relief, respectively. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a self-conducted habituation program that can be personalized to the subject's needs to give adequate symptom relief without side effects. The present study aims to test the effect of VRT on patients with PPPD.

Methods:: Participants were diagnosed as having PPPD by the exclusion of organic vestibular lesions. The study involved 2 groups with PPPD: Group I, treated with the VRT, and Group II, treated with the VRT plus placebo. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), a self-assessment scale, was used to evaluate the VRT outcomes.

Results:: There was a significant decrease in functional, physical, and total scores on the DHI in both groups after VRT. Adding the placebo did not have supplementary outcomes. The patients who did not benefit from the VRT had a significantly longer duration of PPPD, more complex aggravating factors, more composite VRT exercises, and a higher DHI score than the patients who benefited from VRT.

Conclusions:: Customized VRT adequately reduced symptoms and improved quality of life in subjects with PPPD.

Keywords: Dizziness Handicap Inventory; habituation; persistent postural-perceptual dizziness; vertigo; vestibular rehabilitation therapy.