Abstract
Although the interrelations among dizziness and various psychological factors have been well reported, this is not the case for various therapies. Group psychotherapy was attempted in twenty-six patients who consulted the Department of Otolaryngology, Aichi Medical University between April and September 1997. In addition, questionnaires and the locus length measured by stabilometry with opened eyes and closed eyes were studied before and after the therapy to evaluate the effect. Eight doctors and nurses were studied with the patients as a control group.
Twenty-one of the twenty-six (81%) patients answered that therapy was effective in improving their dizziness. The locus length did not change after therapy on either opened-eye or closed-eye testing in the control group. A similar result to that in the control group was noted on opened eye testing, however, significant improvement (p < 0.05) was observed after therapy on closed-eye testing in the patient group. Furthermore, patients above 55 years old showed less improvement than patients under 55.
Group psychotherapy was effective for dizzy patients, however, it was more effective for patients under 55 years old than for those above 55.
