ANXIETY IN VESTIBULAR DISEASE AND THERAPEUTIC PROPOSALS

Abstract

Vestibular dysfunctions produce a distortion of habitual movements due to defective information on cephalic-ocular velocities, gravitational sensations and vestibulo-spinal and vestibulo-cerebellar myotatic tones, affecting static postural movements, postural changes and dynamic walking movements. These defective inputs also affect the limbic system due to its connection with the vestibular system, manifesting in some people psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression and the development of movement-phobic avoidance behaviors. This study aims to provide a reference on the structural and functional relationships between the vestibular system and limbic system, as well as a complementary therapeutic approach for patients with anxiety and vertigo. The bibliographic search was carried out in the PubMed, Scielo, Google Scholar and ResearchGate databases, selecting articles that were related to the topic of interest. It is concluded based on the literature reviewed that there is a robust anatomical and functional connection between the vestibular system and the limbic system and that including complementary therapies such as mindfulness in vestibular rehabilitation could be a good alternative in those patients who suffer from anxiety.