Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: A Novel Non-Invasive Non-Pharmacologic Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder

Yu Tian Yu,Shao Yuan Li

doi:10.4172/2167-1044.1000239

Abstract

U.S. FDA formally approved Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) as an adjunct therapy for treatment-resistant depression in 2005. High expense and possible post-op infection are the obstacle of VNS promotion. Previously, our studies revealed that the concha region is the only superficial region of vagus nerve in mammals. Whether concha region stimulation (Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, taVNS) can reach similar effect in reducing depression as classic VNS? We have been carrying out animal experiments and clinical trials to verify it. These studies have been revealing that taVNS is a novel safe and low-cost non-invasive non-pharmacologic efficacy-guaranteed treatment for major depressive disorder.

Highlights

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a devastating and unremitting problem, which causes high rates of disability and becomes a heavy burden to both patients and society, and is projected to become the second leading cause of disability worldwide by the year 2020 [1]
Based on anatomical studies which suggest that the ear is the only place on the surface of human bodies where there is afferent vagus nerve distribution [11,12], especially in the auricular concha (Figure 3) [13], a direct stimulation of these afferent nerve fibers on ear supposes to has similar effect to classic Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) in reducing depressive symptoms without surgical intervention (Figure 4) [14]
Depression rat models were established by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)

Summary

Introduction

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a devastating and unremitting problem, which causes high rates of disability and becomes a heavy burden to both patients and society, and is projected to become the second leading cause of disability worldwide by the year 2020 [1]. Chinese doctors have been using auricular acupuncture to treat a wild range of diseases, including insomnia, depression and anxiety etc. Based on anatomical studies which suggest that the ear is the only place on the surface of human bodies where there is afferent vagus nerve distribution [11,12], especially in the auricular concha (Figure 3) [13], a direct stimulation of these afferent nerve fibers on ear supposes to has similar effect to classic VNS in reducing depressive symptoms without surgical intervention (Figure 4) [14].

Animal Experiments

Clinical Studies