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Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
Published on: January 7, 2019
Facilitative effects of VNS on the motor threshold: implications for its antidepressive mode of action?
Helge H Müller1, Udo Reulbach, Juan Manuel Maler
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany, helge.mueller@uk-erlangen.de.
Abstract:
In the present study, the effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on the resting motor threshold (rMT) of patients treated with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation were evaluated. Patients showed a significant decrease in the rMT during VNS-on stimulation. VNS was the only significant factor affecting rMT changes and did not appear to be a static variable. Further studies should focus on the effect of VNS on neural neurogenesis in depressive disorders, and the effects of other treatment options for major depressive disorder on the rMT should also be determined.
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