Vertigo Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vertigo, including details on causes, symptoms, treatment, dizziness.

Conscientiousness in patients with Ménière's disease.

De Valck CF, Wuyts FL, Vanspauwen R, Walravens S, Van de Heyning PH

Antwerp University Research centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace, University Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a conscientious personality profile is more prevalent in patients with Ménière's disease (MD) in comparison with other vertigo patients. Second, to investigate a sex effect and compare the obtained conscientiousness scores with published normative values. PATIENTS: A total of 108 patients were included and subdivided into one of five pathology groups: MD, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis, vestibular schwannoma, and posttraumatic nonbenign paroxysmal positional vertigo. INTERVENTION: The conscientiousness domain of the self-reporting NEO Five-Factor Inventory questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Conscientiousness score. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the diagnostic groups or a sex effect. MD patients had a higher score than published normal values. CONCLUSION: As assessed with the NEO Five-Factor Inventory questionnaire, MD patients do not demonstrate a higher conscientious personality profile in comparison with other vertigo patients. Therefore, this limits the clinical use of the personality profile to discriminate between patient groups.

Published 6 April 2007 in Otol Neurotol, 28(3): 365-8.
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