Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Integrated Treatment of Vestibular Rehabilitation and Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Chronic Dizziness in a Community-Based Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Chronic dizziness is common in primary care. Cognitive strategies combined with vestibular rehabilitation (VR) may enhance outcomes, but evidence from randomized controlled trials with long-term follow-up is limited. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate whether a group-based intervention integrating vestibular rehabilitation and cognitive behavioral strategies (VR-CBT) provides added benefit beyond a...

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If the RCT shows superiority of the combined vestibular rehabilitation plus CBT approach, audiologists and vestibular therapists working with chronic dizziness patients should consider coordinating care with psychologists or trained CBT providers — await the published results for effect sizes and responder rates.

Chronic dizziness is frequently perpetuated by psychological factors, and an evidence-based integrated treatment pathway from a community primary-care RCT could reshape first-line management guidelines.

1. 01RCT evaluates vestibular rehabilitation combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic dizziness.
2. 02Community-based primary care setting increases generalizability compared to specialist-clinic trials.
3. 03Published in Physical Therapy (2026); RCT design is the strongest individual study level.
4. 04Targets a patient group that is often under-served and undertreated.
5. 05Outcomes likely include dizziness handicap, quality of life, and anxiety measures.

PMID

42713988

DOI

10.1093/ptj/pzag095.

Journal

Physical Therapy

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

1b

Population

Adults with chronic dizziness in a community-based primary care setting

Intervention

Integrated vestibular rehabilitation plus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Comparator

Vestibular rehabilitation alone or CBT alone (standard care)