CORRELATES OF VERTIGO ATTACKS IN MENIERES-DISEASE

Background: Meniere's disease is a medical condition that involves hea ring loss, tinnitus and attacks of vertigo. The attacks can be severel y disabling with nausea, dizziness, and aural sensations. Method: Thre e scales assessing the correlates of vertigo attacks in Meniere's dise ase were developed and completed by 514 subjects diagnosed with the di sease. The three scales measured were somatic sensations (SOM), psycho logical state (PSYCHOL), and situational characteristics (SIT) associa ted with an attack. Results: Psychometric properties of the three scal es were investigated showing Cronbach's alphas of 0.76, 0.80, and 0.62 for the three scales respectively. The results on the scales were rel ated to disease progression. Principal components factor analyses show ed that the SOM scale could be divided into two subscales: dizziness/v ertigo/anxiety and sensations in the ear. The PSYCHOL scale showed an energy/awareness factor and a negative emotional state factor. The SIT scale, finally, showed two factors: environmental disturbances and st ressful conditions. Conclusions: Knowledge of somatic, psychological a nd situational premonitory characteristics of attacks in Meniere's dis ease could lead to improved therapy and counselling.