Randomized controlled trial of vestibular rehabilitation combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy for dizziness in older people

OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation combi ned with cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of dizziness in olde r people. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A randomized controlled design was used with pati ents recruited via an advertisement. Nine patients completed treatment and 10 served as waiting-list controls. The intervention lasted 7 weeks with 5 weekly group sessions and consisted of vestibular exercises. Cognitive beha vioral therapy components were added to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and avoidance of feared situations and movements. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements on walking time, 2 dizzines s provocative movements, and on the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, but no ef fects on the Romberg or anxiety and depression. Of the treated patients, 89 % reached statistical significant improvement on the total inventory score. CONCLUSION: Cognitive behavioral therapy combined with vestibular rehabilit ation decreases dizziness in older people. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings indicate that cognitive behavioral therapy can be combined with vestibular rehabilitation in the treatment of dizziness.