AUTHOR=Toupet Michel , Van Nechel Christian , Hautefort Charlotte , Heuschen Sylvie , Duquesne Ulla , Cassoulet Anne , Bozorg Grayeli Alexis 

TITLE=Influence of Visual and Vestibular Hypersensitivity on Derealization and Depersonalization in Chronic Dizziness

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2019

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2019.00069

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2019.00069

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between visual and vestibular hypersensitivity and Depersonalization/Derealization symptoms in patients with chronic dizziness.
Materials and Methods: 319 adult patients with chronic dizziness for more than 3 months (214 females and 105 males, mean age: 58 years, range: 13-90) were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. Patients underwent a complete audio-vestibular workup and 3 auto questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD), Depersonalization/Derealization Inventory (DDI), and an in-house questionnaire (Dizziness in Daily Activity, DDA) assessing 9 activities with a score ranging from 0 (no difficulty) to 10 (maximal discomfort) and 11 (avoidance) to detect patients with visual and vestibular hypersensitivity (VVH, a score > 41 corresponding to mean + 1 standard deviation). 
Results: DDI scores were higher in case of VVH (6.9 ± 6.79, n=55 versus 4.2 ± 4.81, n=256 without VVH, p<0.001, unpaired t-test), migraine (6.1 ± 6.40, n=110 versus 4.0 ± 4.42, n=208no migraine, p< 0.001, unpaired t-test) and motion sickness (6.8 ± 5.93, n=41 versus 4.4 ± 5.11, n=277 no motion sickness, p< 0.01, unpaired t-test). Women scored DDI higher than men (5.1 ± 5.42, n=213 versus 3.9 ± 4.91, n=105 respectively, p<0.05, unpaired t-test). DDI scores were also related to depression and anxiety. DDI score was also higher during spells than during the basal state.
Conclusion: During chronic dizziness, Depersonalization/Derealization symptoms seem to be related to anxiety and depression. Moreover, they were prominent in women, in those with visual and vestibular hypersensitivity, migraine, and motion sickness.