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Vagus nerve stimulation in psychiatry: a systematic review of the available evidence
Abstract
Invasive and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a promising add-on treatment for treatment-refractory depression, but is also increasingly evaluated for its application in other psychiatric disorders, such as dementia, schizophrenia, somatoform disorder, and others. We performed a systematic review aiming to give a detailed overview of the available evidence of the efficacy of VNS for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Data derived from animal models, experimental trials without health-related outcomes, case reports, single-session studies, and reviews were excluded. From 1292 publications, 33 records were included for further analyses: 25 focused on VNS as treatment of unipolar or bipolar major depressive disorder and one investigated the neurocognitive improvement after VNS in major depressive disorder. Seven focused on the improvement of cognitive function in Alzheimer´s disease, improvement of schizophrenia symptoms, treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder (PD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treatment resistant rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, treatment of fibromyalgia, and Prader-Willi syndrome. A total of 29 studies used invasive VNS, while four studies used non-invasive, transcutaneous VNS. Only 7 out of 33 studies investigated conditions other than affective disorders. The efficacy data of VNS in affective disorders is promising, whereas more in controlled and naturalistic studies are needed. In other conditions like schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, OCD, PD, PTSD, and fibromyalgia, either no effects or preliminary data on efficacy were reported. At this point, no final conclusion can be made regarding the efficacy of VNS to improve symptoms in psychiatric disorders other than in affective disorders.
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“The previous meta-analyses mainly focused on assessing the effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation via surgical implantation for managing major depressive disorder.[25–27]”
From Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in treating major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [27]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Cimpianu, C.-L., Strube, W., Falkai, P., Palm, U., & Hasan, A.
- Affiliations
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie (DE)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Cimpianu, Camelia-Lucia
- Venue
- Journal of Neural Transmission
- Published
- 2016-11-16
- Volume
- 124
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 145-158
- ISSN
- 0300-9564 (ISSN-L)
- 1435-1463
- OpenAlex
- W2551129515
- Cited by
- 138
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 14
- FWCI
- 1.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Neural Transmission (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
- OPUS (Augsburg University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Deep Brain Stimulation and Movement Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies
- Keywords
- vagus nerve stimulation, treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, fibromyalgia, Prader-Willi syndrome, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, cognitive function, mental illness
- MeSH terms
- Mental Disorders, Humans, Psychiatry, Evidence-Based Medicine, Vagus Nerve Stimulation
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