One notable theory as to the cause of MDDS postulates that it may occur due to the hippocampus sending out false vestibular signals indicating movement when there is none. 

Claremont Graduate University

MdDS is a poorly understood vestibular disorder/ neurological condition that causes rocking, dizziness, and associated symptoms. It usually appears after sustained, passive motion, such as a cruise. This disorder is poorly understood. 

MdDS (Mal de Debarquement Syndrome)

Nwagwu, V., Okudo, J., & Patel, R. (2015). Mal de debarquement syndrome: a rare entity—a case report and review of the literature. Case Reports in Otolaryngology, 2015(2015). 

Mal de Debarquement Syndrome: A Rare Entity

In a 2012 study of patients with MdDS (Mal de debarquement), it was found that the range for patient quality of life fell in between being just as low as those with other, severe neurological and vestibular disorders, such as longstanding MS (multiple sclerosis), or, often times, much lower. 

Quality of Life for those with MdDS (Mal de debarquement)

Patients with MdDS (Mal de debarquement) commonly have severe, continuous problems staying still, maintaining balance, and feeling grounded. In a 2012 study of MdDS, over half of the patients studied reported that they had persistent issued maintaining balance and many reported falling at least once in the past year.


Falling, Balance, and MdDS (Mal de debarquement)


Patients with MdDS (Mal de debarquement) reported a marked economic burden caused by the onset of their condition. Most of this economic burden (85-90%) comes from indirect causes- meaning that it is not related to medical cost but to other figures, such as an inability to work. The cost for MdDS is so significant that if one were to get MdDS in their mid-twenties and live an average life span, the cost to them would be about over a quarter-million U.S. dollars.

The Economic Burden of MdDS (Mal de debarquement)

While most patients with MdDS (Mal de debarquement) develop symptoms after experiencing a long, passive motion such as a cruise or a lengthy flight, some patients develop most or all of the typical MdDS (Mal de debarquement) symptoms without exposure to such an event. This is called Spontaneous or Other Onset MdDS (Mal de debarquement) and is typically represented in shorthand with “SO MdDS”.

Spontaneous or Other Onset MdDS (Mal de Debarquement)

Both typical MdDS (Mal de debarquement) and SO MdDS show extremely high frequency of misdiagnosis. In a study in 2018, 100% of participants with either MdDS and SO MdDS indicated that they had been misdiagnosed at least once. The most frequent of the misdiagnosis given to both groups was that of general vertigo.

Frequency of Misdiagnosis of MdDS (Mal de Debarquement)

Some common triggers that may worsen MdDS symptoms (such as loss of balance, dizziness, rocking, etc.) include flickering lights, bright lights, and loud noises.

MdDs Triggers

Patients with MDDS often feel relief from dizziness and other typical MDDS symptoms when they experience motion that counteracts their rocking, such as riding in a car or boat. 

Counteracting Rocking with MDDS

Some effective treatments for MDDS include specific pills, such as benzodiazepines or amitriptyline. Aside from medications, some promise has been shown with the use of physical therapy. Though these are not foolproof methods and although all methods of care for those with MDDS have a fairly high failure rate, these are shown to be most effective in many cases, including in a notable 2015 study. 

Treatment for MDDS

Theorized Cause of MDDS

MDDS seems to affect older individuals at a higher rate as women in their 40s are the most likely group to develop the condition 

Age and MDDS

MDDS was not officially recognized by the medical community until 1987 and since then no major successful studies have been made in determining cause or altering the original basis of knowledge formulated when the disease was recognized

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