Mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a disorder of phantom perception of 
self-motion of unknown cause. The purpose of this work was to describe the 
quality of life (QOL) of patients with MdDS and to estimate the economic costs 
associated with this disorder. A modified version of a QOL survey used for 
another neurological disease (multiple sclerosis; MSQOL-54) was used to assess 
the impact of MdDS on QOL in 101 patients. The estimated economic costs were 
based on self-reported direct and indirect costs of individuals living in the 
United States using Medicare reimbursement payment rates for 2011 in 79 
patients. Patients with MdDS reported a poor overall QOL as indicated by a mean 
composite QOL score of 59.26 ± 1.89 (out of 100). The subcategories having the 
lowest QOL rating were role limitations due to physical problems (18.32 ± 3.20), 
energy (34.24 ± 1.47), and emotional problems (36.30 ± 4.00). The overall 
physical health composite score including balance was 49.40 ± 1.69, and the 
overall mental health composite score was 52.40 ± 1.83. The cost to obtain a 
diagnosis was $2,997 ± 337, which included requiring an average of 19 physician 
visits per patient. The direct cost of MdDS medical care was $826 ± 140 per 
patient per year, which mainly included diagnostic imaging and physician visits. 
The indirect costs (i.e., lost wages) were $9,781 ± 2,347 per patient per year. 
Among 65 patients who were gainfully employed when they acquired MdDS, the 
indirect costs were $11,888 ± 2,786 per patient per year. Thus, the total annual 
cost of the disorder ranged from $11,493 ± 2,341 to $13,561 ± 2,778 per patient 
per year depending on employment status prior to developing MdDS. MdDS 
negatively and dramatically impacts QOL, and also imposes a substantial economic 
burden on MdDS patients. These findings underscore the need for further basic 
and clinical research on MdDS.