Clinical Features of Mal de Debarquement: Adaptation and Habituation to Sea Conditions1

Abstract

A survey conducted among 116 crew members of seagoing vessels confirmed that mal de debarquement (M-D) is a transient feeling of swinging, swaying, unsteadiness, and disequilibrium. None of the subjects requested medical attention, although there were isolated cases in which a strong sensation of swinging and unsteadiness caused transient postural instability and impaired the ability to drive. In most cases, the sensation of M-D appeared immediately on disembarking and generally lasted a few hours. In addition, subjects usually described bouts or attacks of M-D associated with changes in body posture, head position, or with closing of the eyes. M-D was reported by 72% of our subjects. Sixty-six percent of subjects reported a high incidence following their first voyages. A significant positive correlation was found between M-D and seasickness susceptibility. The nature of M-D may be explained within the framework of multisensorimotor adaptation and habituation to a new or abnormal motion environment. It is suggested that M-D represents a dynamic, multisensorimotor form of CNS adaptive plasticity.