Effect and neural mechanisms of the transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for relapse prevention in patients with remitted major depressive disorder: protocol for a longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

After the first episode, patients with remitted major depressive disorder (MDD) have a 60% chance of experiencing a second episode. There are currently no accepted, effective methods to prevent the recurrence of MDD in remission. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a non-invasive, safe and economical approach based on the efficacy of VNS in improving clinical depression symptoms. This clinical trial will study the efficacy of taVNS in preventing MDD relapse and investigate the underlying mechanisms of this.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a multicentre, randomised, patient-blinded and evaluators double-blinded trial. We will randomise 90 eligible participants with recurrent MDD in remission in a 1:1 ratio into a real or sham taVNS group. All p

SUBMITTER: Zhang ZQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8867334 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature