Cited by 282Vagus Nerve Stimulation ResearchTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation StudiesTreatment of Major Depression

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Auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in depressed patients: a randomized controlled pilot study

Hein, Ernst, Nowak, Magdalena, Kiess, Olga, Biermann, Teresa, Bayerlein, Kristina, Kornhuber, Johannes, Kraus, Thomas·2013·Journal of Neural Transmission

DOI 10.1007/s00702-012-0908-6

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Abstract

Invasive vagus nerve stimulation has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment in major depressive episodes. Recently, a novel non-invasive method of stimulating the vagus nerve on the outer canal of the ear has been proposed. In healthy subjects, a prominent fMRI BOLD signal deactivation in the limbic system was found. The present pilot study investigates the effects of this novel technique of auricular transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation in depressed patients for the first time. A total of 37 patients suffering from major depression were included in two randomized sham controlled add-on studies. Patients were stimulated five times a week on a daily basis for the duration of 2 weeks. On days 0 and 14, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were assessed. In contrast to sham-treated patients, electrically stimulated persons showed a significantly better outcome in the BDI. Mean decrease in the active treatment group was 12.6 (SD 6.0) points compared to 4.4 (SD 9.9) points in the sham group. HAMD score did not change significantly in the two groups. An antidepressant effect of a new transcutaneous auricular nerve stimulation technique has been shown for the first time in this controlled pilot study. Regarding the limitations of psychometric testing, the risk of unblinding for technical reasons, and the small sample size, further studies are necessary to confirm the present results and verify the practicability of tVNS in clinical fields.

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Authors: Hein, E., Nowak, M., Kiess, O., Biermann, T., Bayerlein, K., Kornhuber, J., & Kraus, T.
Affiliations: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
Corresponding author: Hein, Ernst
ORCID: Biermann, Teresa
Kornhuber, Johannes
Venue: Journal of Neural Transmission
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2012-11-02
Volume: 120
Issue: 5
Pages: 821-827
ISSN: 0300-9564 (ISSN-L)
1435-1463
DOI: 10.1007/s00702-012-0908-6
OpenAlex: W2024665687
Cited by: 282
References: 34
Citations by year: 2026: 14 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 8
FWCI: 2.73
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Neural Transmission (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords: major depressive disorder, non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation, antidepressant effects, BOLD signal, depression rating scales
MeSH terms: Adult, Aged, Antidepressive Agents, Brain, Depression, Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Vagus Nerve, Statistics, Nonparametric

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Auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in depressed patients: a randomized controlled pilot study

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