0394 Effect of electrical vestibular nerve stimulation on sleep quality in young adults with insomnia: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Insomnia is a common sleep disorder among all age groups which adversely affects physical and mental health. Young adults are considered a high-risk population group due to increased use of electronic media at bedtime, stress associated with balancing educational demands and unhealthy sleep practices. Previous research suggests that electrical vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS) may improve sleep outcomes by influencing the hypothalamus and brainstem nuclei involved in regulating the circadian rhythm and wakefulness. The present study is a randomised, double blinded, sham-controlled trial with the aim of assessing the efficacy of VeNS on the sleep quality of young adults suffering from insomnia. Methods Eighty adults aged 18-24 years who scored 15 or higher on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were recruited. Participants assigned to the intervention group (n=40) received 30 minutes per day of VeNS with 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks, while the control group (n=40) received sham stimulation for the same period. ISI scores were recorded at baseline and repeated weekly. The primary outcome was between-group change in ISI from baseline to day 28. Secondary outcomes included between-group change in the emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress measured by the DASS-21 questionnaire, and quality of life (QoL) measured by the WHOQoL-BREF. Results A group-by-time interaction effect on change in ISI score from day 0 to day 28 (F3, 248 = 295.56; P< 0.001) was observed. The intervention group had a higher reduction in mean ISI score relative to the control group at day 28 (mean change [95% CI]: 7.23 [6.78, 7.67] vs. 0.98 [0.89, 1.06], P< 0.001; respectively). Furthermore, the intervention group showed improvements in depression, anxiety, and stress scores (P< 0.001) and QoL outcomes (P< 0.001) compared with the control group. Conclusion Regular VeNS usage over 4 weeks lead to a clinically meaningful decrease in ISI scores and improved general well-being in young adults with insomnia. VeNS may have potential as a drug-free and non-invasive therapy to improve sleep outcomes. Support (if any)