A cross-sectional study to understand the pervasiveness of psychiatric features among tinnitus and vertigo patients.

To identify the mental health problems among patients having symptoms of tinnitus and vertigo due to vestibulocochlear disturbances. The cross-sectional study was conducted from May to September 2019 at the Hearts International Hospital and the Hearing and Balance Clinic, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with the Foundation University, Islamabad, and comprised vestibulocochlear disorder patients of either gender aged >18 years having chief symptoms of vertigo and tinnitus for at least the preceding 3 months. Psychiatric evaluation was conducted using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale. Audiological evaluations were carried out to gauge the severity of symptoms. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. Of the 202 subjects, 60(30%) were females and 142(70%) were males. Patients experiencing vertigo and tinnitus symptoms had a strong tendency to develop psychiatric problems (p<0.05). Significant differences were noted among male and female patients regarding the representation of psychiatric symptoms (p<0.05). Patients experiencing tinnitus and vertigo symptoms tended to have a deviant psychological profile analogous with other chronic diseases.