The DOI matches its Crossref record; 34 of the 34 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in depressed patients: a randomized controlled pilot study
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.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“One randomized controlled trial[13] reported adequate random sequence generation (selection bias), while concealment of allocation was unclear in this RCT study.”
From Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in treating major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [13]
In the citing paper
“The interventions used in the control groups were all sham taVNS.[13–15]”
From Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in treating major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [13]
In the citing paper
“One randomized controlled trial[13] reported adequate random sequence generation (selection bias), while concealment of allocation was unclear in this RCT study.”
From Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in treating major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [13]
In the citing paper
“Another study reported that there were no adverse side effects after the taVNS intervention.[13]”
From Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in treating major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [13]
Citations
Cites
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Williams, J. B. W., & First, M. B. (2013) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.104 · Cited by 109,842
An inventory for measuring depression
BECK, A. T. (1961) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1961.01710120031004 · Cited by 38,032
Hamilton, M. (1960) · Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry · doi:10.1136/jnnp.23.1.56 · Cited by 32,817
Functional and chemical anatomy of the afferent vagal system
Berthoud, H.-R., & Neuhuber, W. L. (2000) · Autonomic Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/s1566-0702(00)00215-0 · Cited by 1,280
Bewernick, B. H., Hurlemann, R., Matusch, A., Kayser, S., Grubert, C., Hadrysiewicz, B., Axmacher, N., Lemke, M., Cooper-Mahkorn, D., Cohen, M. X., et al. (2010) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.09.013 · Cited by 865
Sackeim, H. (2001) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1016/s0893-133x(01)00271-8 · Cited by 568
Kessler, R. C., Birnbaum, H. G., Shahly, V., Bromet, E. J., Hwang, I. H., McLaughlin, K. A., Sampson, N. A., Andrade, L. H., de Girolamo, G., Demyttenaere, K., et al. (2009) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.20634 · Cited by 490
Kraus, T., Hösl, K. M., Kiess, O., Schanze, A., Kornhuber, J., & Forster, C. (2007) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/s00702-007-0755-z · Cited by 410
Self-citationFitzgerald, P. B., Benitez, J., de Castella, A. R., Daskalakis, Z. J., Brown, T. L., & Kulkarni, J. (2006) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.163.1.88 · Cited by 357
Loo, C. K. A., Sachdev, P. S., Martin, D. M., Pigot, M., Alonzo, A., Malhi, G. S., Lagopoulos, J., & Mitchell, P. B. (2009) · The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1017/s1461145709990411 · Cited by 297
Dietrich, S., Smith, J. C., Scherzinger, C., Hofmann-Preiß, K., Freitag, T., Eisenkolb, A., & Ringler, R. (2008) · Biomedizinische Technik/Biomedical Engineering · doi:10.1515/bmt.2008.022 · Cited by 265
Aaron, D. (1974) · Foreign Policy · doi:10.2307/1148118 · Cited by 217
Therapeutic Options for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Shelton, R. C., Osuntokun, O. O., Heinloth, A. N., & Corya, S. A. (2010) · CNS Drugs · doi:10.2165/11530280-000000000-00000 · Cited by 212
Vagus nerve stimulation for depression: efficacy and safety in a European study
Schlaepfer, T. E., Frick, C., Zobel, A., Maier, W., Heuser, I., Bajbouj, M., O'Keane, V., Corcoran, C., Adolfsson, R., Trimble, M., et al. (2008) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291707001924 · Cited by 205
Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for partial onset seizure therapy
Ventureyra, E. C. G. (2000) · Child s Nervous System · doi:10.1007/s003810050021 · Cited by 188
Far field potentials from the brain stem after transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation
Fallgatter, A. J., Neuhauser, B., Herrmann, M. J., Ehlis, A., Wagener, A., Scheuerpflug, P., Reiners, K., & Riederer, P. (2003) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/s00702-003-0087-6 · Cited by 184
Two-year outcome of vagus nerve stimulation in treatment-resistant depression
Bajbouj, M., Merkl, A., Schlaepfer, T. E., Frick, C., Zobel, A., Maier, W., O'Keane, V., Corcoran, C., Adolfsson, R., Trimble, M., et al. (2010) · Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1097/jcp.0b013e3181db8831 · Cited by 178 · cited 2×
“Rather, the effects are similar to those of invasive vagus nerve stimulation—a well-examined invasive method in neurology and increasingly in psychiatry (Bajbouj et al. 2010; Schlaepfer et al. 2008; Zobel et al. 2005).”
BackgroundDaban, C., Martinez-Aran, A., Cruz, N., & Vieta, E. (2008) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2008.02.012 · Cited by 163
The efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy and antidepressants in depression.
Avery, D., & Winokur, G. (1977) · PubMed · Cited by 163
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Major Depressive Disorder: A Review
Daskalakis, Z. J., LEVINSON, A. J., & Fitzgerald, P. B. (2008) · The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/070674370805300902 · Cited by 142
Zobel, A., Joe, A., Freymann, N., Clusmann, H., Schramm, J., Reinhardt, M., Biersack, H.-J., Maier, W., & Broich, K. (2005) · Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2005.02.010 · Cited by 117
Greif, R. T., Laciny, S., Mokhtarani, M., Doufas, A. G., Bakhshandeh, M., Dorfer, L., & Sessler, D. I. (2002) · Anesthesiology · doi:10.1097/00000542-200202000-00014 · Cited by 115
Neurostimulation therapies in depression: a review of new modalities
Marangell, L. B., Martínez, M., Jurdi, R. A., & Zboyan, H. A. (2007) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.01033.x · Cited by 107
Polak, T. T., Markulin, F., Ehlis, A., Langer, J. B. M., Ringel, T. M., & Fallgatter, A. J. (2009) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/s00702-009-0282-1 · Cited by 92
A Pilot Study of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Bystritsky, A. M., Kerwin, L. E., & Feusner, J. D. (2008) · The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/jcp.v69n0311 · Cited by 75
Age effect on far field potentials from the brain stem after transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation
Fallgatter, A. J., Ehlis, A., Ringel, T. M., & Herrmann, M. J. (2004) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2004.09.007 · Cited by 58
Stegmann, M., Ormel, J., de Graaf, R., Haro, J. M., de Girolamo, G., Demyttenaere, K., Kovess–Masféty, V., Matschinger, H., Vilagut, G., Alonso, J., et al. (2009) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2009.10.026 · Cited by 44
Polak, T. T., Ehlis, A., Langer, J. B. M., Plichta, M. M., Metzger, F. G., Ringel, T. M., & Fallgatter, A. J. (2007) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/s00702-007-0625-8 · Cited by 41
Frank, E., Eichhammer, P., Burger, J., Zowe, M., Landgrebe, M., Hajak, G., & Langguth, B. (2010) · European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/s00406-010-0137-7 · Cited by 35
Lampl, C., Kreczi, T., & Klingler, D. (1998) · Clinical Journal of Pain · doi:10.1097/00002508-199806000-00008 · Cited by 30
Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on cognition and behaviour in aging
Scherder, E., Someren, E. J. W. V., Bouma, A., & Berg, M. V. D. (2000) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/s0166-4328(00)00170-4 · Cited by 29
Luijpen, M. W., Swaab, D. F., Sergeant, J. A., & Scherder, E. (2004) · Neurorehabilitation and neural repair · doi:10.1177/0888439004268785 · Cited by 15
Auricular vagus somatosensory evoked potentials in vascular dementia
Polak, T. T., Markulin, F., Ehlis, A., Metzger, F. G., Langer, J. B., Ringel, T. M., & Fallgatter, A. J. (2009) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/s00702-009-0202-4 · Cited by 14
STAR*D: Helping to Close the Gap Between Science and Practice
Shern, D. L., & Moran, H. (2009) · Psychiatric Services · doi:10.1176/appi.ps.60.11.1458 · Cited by 8
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- World Health Organization (1992) The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders: Clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines. World Health Organization, Geneva
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Frangos, E., Ellrich, J., & Komisaruk, B. R. (2014) · Brain stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2014.11.018 · Cited by 764
Yap, J. Y. Y., Keatch, C., Lambert, É., Woods, W., Stoddart, P. R., & Kameneva, T. (2020) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00284 · Cited by 442
Quintana, D. S., Alvares, G. A., & Heathers, J. A. J. (2016) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/tp.2016.73 · Cited by 420
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Modulates Default Mode Network in Major Depressive Disorder
Fang, J., Rong, P., Yang, H., Fan, Y., Liu, J. H., Wang, H., Zhang, G., Chen, X., Shi, S. R., Wang, L., et al. (2015) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.03.025 · Cited by 416
Bonaz, B., Sinniger, V., & Pellissier, S. (2017) · Frontiers in Immunology · doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.01452 · Cited by 405
Metadata
- 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
- Venue
- Journal of Neural Transmission
- Published
- 2012-11-02
- Volume
- 120
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 821-827
- ISSN
- 0300-9564 (ISSN-L)
- 1435-1463
- 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
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
