Electroconvulsive Therapy for Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness: A Case Report

Persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a functional vestibular disorder that can cause significant distress and impairment. Evidence for effective PPPD treatment is still limited and among suggested treatment regimes there have been mixed findings regarding neurostimulation. We present a case report of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for an individual with severe PPPD. The patient was a middle-aged woman admitted for acute suicidal ideation in the setting of peripartum depression and PPPD, following several unsuccessful antidepressant trials and a prior suicide attempt. She provided voluntary consent for ECT during admission, and 10 acute bifrontal ECT treatments were completed. The patient was substantially improved in PPPD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms, as well as quality of life. ECT may be beneficial in addressing PPPD symptoms. Further research is needed regarding the role of neurostimulation in PPPD.