The Basic Symptom Inventory-53 and its use in the management of patients with psychogenic dizziness

OBJECTIVE., To identify an accurate psychological screening questionnaire t o assist in the management of patients with psychogenic dizziness. STUDY DESIGN: Patients referred to the Balance Center of the University of Pennsylvania with a presumptive diagnosis of psychogenic dizziness based on neurotologic assessment were administered a Basic Symptom Inventory-53 (BS I-53) psychological screening questionnaire and were referred for psychiatr ic assessment. Neither the patients nor the psychiatrist were aware of the results of the BSI-53. The results of the neurotologic assessment, the BSI- 53, and the psychiatric assessment were then compared for their degree of a ssociation. RESULTS: Strong associations were demonstrated between the results of the B SI-53 questionnaire and the results of the neurotologic, and psychiatric as sessments. CONCLUSIONS: The BSI-53 is an easily administered, objective, and accurate tool useful in identifying the presence of psychopathology in patients thou ght to have psychogenic, dizziness. It is recommended as a valuable additio n to the battery of tests performed when evaluating the dizzy patient.