A description of self-selected treatments and self-reported improvement following treatment among post-9/11 veterans experiencing disruptive dizziness following a comprehensive traumatic brain injury evaluation

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore what treatments were sought by post-9/11 Veterans with and without a formal diagnosis related to their long-term dizziness following completion of a Comprehensive Traumatic Brain Injury Evaluation (CTBIE). METHODS: The study explored the self-reported use of 12 treatments (acupuncture, balance training, chiropractic, counseling, medication, meditation, surgery, tai chi, vestibular rehabilitation, yoga, diet, nutrition) as well as the self-perceived effectiveness of each treatment in a sample of 928 post-9/11 Veterans who reported moderate to severe dizziness during the CTBIE. RESULTS: In total, 78% of the sample reported trying at least one treatment to reduce their dizziness. Veterans with a formal diagnosis related to their disruptive dizziness were more likely to have pursued treatment and have tried a broader range of treatment modalities compared to those without a diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Veterans in this sample who screened positive for moderate to severe disruptive dizziness on the CTBIE continued to report dizziness for 3-15 years following their original assessment. Our data indicate that having a specific diagnosis related to their disruptive dizziness increases the likelihood of seeking treatment for but did not increase the likelihood of seeing an improvement in symptoms across time. Further research is necessary to explore appropriate interventions to increase the utilization of evidence-based treatments in clinical pathways for Veterans reporting disruptive dizziness during the CTBIE.