Vestibular Schwannoma and Psychological Factors

Evaluation of the Influence of Psychological Factors on Balance Control Compensation After Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery

The surgery of a vestibular schwannoma induces balance disorders which have a an impact on the patient's daily life and disrupt their quality of life.

But the balance disorders don't seem to be the only ones factors that impaired the patient's quality of life. It has been alrealdy shown that emotional and psychological factors are also related to patient's quality of life.

This study evaluates the relationship between the balance control compensation and these factors (i.e. emotional and psychological) in the vestibular schwannoma resection process.

The research protocol is based on 5 evaluation: 3 days before surgery, 8 days, 30 days, 90 days and 360 days after surgery including posturographic tests, videonystagmography and psychological questionnaires at each evaluation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with unilateral vestibular schwannoma (stage I to IV according to the Koos classification) with an indication for surgery.
• age between 18 and 75 years
• patients with written informed consent
• patients with Social Security affiliation

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with psychiatrics pathologies
• ear pathology different from vestibular schwannoma (cholesteatoma of the middle ear, tympanic membrane perforation)