09-12, 17:00–18:00 (Europe/Istanbul), Equilibrium 2
Novel Approaches general panel discussion
We propose a hypothesis-generating observational study that explores the relationship between obsessive-compulsive (OC) personality traits and the severity of vertigo-related anxiety in patients with common peripheral vestibular disorders. Despite similar vestibular test results, some patients report disabling dizziness, while others cope more easily — suggesting that psychological traits may act as symptom amplifiers. This proposed study will include patients diagnosed with BPPV, vestibular neuritis, or Menière’s disease. Each participant will complete validated instruments including the Vertigo Handicap Inventory (VHI), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, and the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R). We will analyze the correlation between obsessive-compulsive traits and reported anxiety intensity, adjusting for diagnosis and vestibular dysfunction severity. We believe that identifying psychological vulnerability in vestibular patients can lead to earlier, individualized management strategies — including integration of cognitive-behavioral therapy in selected cases.
To investigate whether obsessive-compulsive personality traits are associated with increased vertigo-related anxiety, independent of vestibular dysfunction severity, in order to guide a more personalized and multidisciplinary approach to treatment.
Personal Information
Title MD, PhD
Name Takao Imai
Country Japan
Affiliation Center for Ear Surgery and Dizziness & Hearing Loss Treatment, Bellland General Hospital
Academic appointments
Director of the center 2022-present
Center for Ear Surgery, Dizziness & Hearing Loss Treatment, Bellland General Hospital, Osaka, Japan
Associate professor 2019-2022
Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
Lecturer 2014-2019
Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
Assistant Professor 2009-2014
Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
Instructor 2001-2007
Dept. of Otolaryngology, Kansai Rosai Hospital, Hyogo, Japan
Professional Societies
International
Barany Society (Active Member) 2012-present
Domestic
Director of Japan Society For Equilibrium Research 2021-present
My name is Mine Baydan Aran, and I am an Associate Professor at the Department of Audiology, Ankara University, Turkey.
I graduated from Ankara University, Department of Psychology in 2010. After my graduation, I started my master's degree at Hacettepe University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Audiology, where I studied cortical auditory evoked potentials in my master's thesis. In 2019, I completed my doctoral dissertation on vestibulo-ocular reflex, dynamic visual acuity, and postural balance in mild cognitive disorders. I am continuing my studies on balance disorders and vestibular rehabilitation.
My primary research focuses on balance disorders and vestibular rehabilitation, with a particular emphasis on the elderly population with cognitive impairments. I have substantial experience in this area through my academic and clinical work, including supervising theses and contributing to projects aimed at enhancing balance for individuals with vestibular disorders across different age groups.
I am a board-certified ENT specialist with a subspecialization in neurotology and ongoing training in Positive Psychotherapy (currently in my third year). I currently practice at Nova Explorări ORL Clinic in Cluj-Napoca, where I integrate advanced vestibular diagnostics with a patient-centered and holistic clinical approach. My primary areas of focus include vertigo, imbalance, tinnitus, and hearing disorders, particularly within the context of somato-psychic interaction.
I have approximately 10 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular patients and have completed numerous advanced training courses in this field. Among the most relevant, I would mention the masterclass led by Prof. Michael Strupp in Munich, the vestibular rehabilitation training with Prof. Mans Magnusson in Copenhagen, the comprehensive hands-on course with Prof. Shrinivas, the VEMP workshop with Prof. Eleftherios Papathanasiou, and the AVISA International Vestibular Diploma program. These trainings have helped me consolidate both my theoretical knowledge and my practical skills in managing peripheral, central, and functional vestibular disorders.
I have also served as a lecturer within the AVISA program, delivering a course on vestibular migraine, as well as at the IFOS World Congress in Dubai, where I co-led a workshop on vestibular rehabilitation in chronic bilateral vestibulopathies. In 2024, I presented a clinical poster on Chiari malformation at the Bárány Society Meeting. Additionally, I have given numerous national presentations and actively contribute to the Romanian Society for Vertigo, Tinnitus, and Hearing Loss, of which I am a founding member.
Over the past three years, I have increasingly focused on Positive Psychotherapy, aiming to better understand how personality traits and psycho-emotional background influence both the etiology and the perception of vertigo-related symptoms. This integrative perspective is becoming a central part of my approach to complex vestibular patients.
