Mal de Debarquement presenting in the Emergency Department

Mal de debarquement (MDD) is a common, benign, and self-limited syndrome suffered by many people after disembarkation from an oceangoing vessel. It is characterized by a continuing sensation of being on an unsteady pitching and rolling deck, even after a return to solid ground. Symptoms typically dissipate over several hours or days, but can linger for weeks. There is no effective treatment for MDD, no work-up is required, and patients can be reassured that the symptoms are transient. We present a case of MDD in a previously healthy 22-year-old male, and discuss the approach to MDD in the emergency department setting.