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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
Published on: January 7, 2019
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum concentrations in depressive patients during vagus nerve stimulation and
Undine E Lang1, Malek Bajbouj, Juergen Gallinat
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01099 Dresden, Germany. undine.lang@gmx.de
Background:
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are brain stimulation techniques used as therapeutic interventions in major depression.
Methods:
In this study, we report the impact of these stimulation techniques on serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in treatment-resistant patients with a diagnosis of major depression.
Results:
We found no changes of BDNF serum concentrations and no association of neurotrophin concentrations in serum with clinical parameters in our sample.
Conclusion:
Our preliminary results suggest that brain stimulation techniques-in contrast to several antidepressant medications-do not change BDNF serum concentrations.
