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Open Access 01-08-2020 | Migraine | Original Communication

Visually-induced dizziness is associated with sensitivity and avoidance across all senses

Authors: Georgina Powell, Hannah Derry-Sumner, Katherine Shelton, Simon Rushton, Craig Hedge, Deepak Rajenderkumar, Petroc Sumner

Published in: Journal of Neurology | Issue 8/2020

Abstract

Background

Persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a common chronic condition presenting in neurology and neuro-otology clinics. Symptoms lie on a spectrum in the general population. The cause is unknown and thought to involve interactions between visual and vestibular systems, but symptoms also correlate with anxiety and migraine.

Objective

To test whether PDDD symptoms are associated with reported differences in other senses (touch, hearing, smell and taste); to investigate possible mediation via anxiety or migraine; to discover the proportion of variance accountable to these non-vestibular factors.

Methods

We measured self-report multisensory sensitivity, anxiety, visual difficulties, visual discomfort and migraine in patients with PPPD (N = 29) and a large general population cohort (N > 1100). We used structural equation modelling to examine relationships between the factors using a step-wise approach.

Results

We found increased self-reported over-sensitivity in sensory domains beyond vision and balance in both patients with PPPD and non-clinical participants with more PPPD symptoms. SEM analysis revealed that anxiety partly, but not wholly, mediated this relationship. Adding visual difficulties and visual discomfort to the model allowed it to explain 50% of PPPD symptom variance. Most of the path coefficients and mediation effects in our model were unchanged between participants with and without migraine.

Conclusions

Our findings support the idea that PPPD is a complex neurological condition that includes broad perceptual factors, and may suggest that some brains are predisposed to generalised cross-modal sensory-overload. This may give rise to vulnerability to severe PPPD should a vestibular insult occur.

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Title: Visually-induced dizziness is associated with sensitivity and avoidance across all senses
Authors: Georgina Powell
Hannah Derry-Sumner
Katherine Shelton
Simon Rushton
Craig Hedge
Deepak Rajenderkumar
Petroc Sumner
Publication date: 01-08-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Migraine
Anxiety
Published in: Journal of Neurology / Issue 8/2020
Print ISSN: 0340-5354
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1459
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-09817-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Visually-induced dizziness is associated with sensitivity and avoidance across all senses

Abstract

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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