Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Effective for Insomnia
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2024 -- Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) reduces insomnia severity, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in JAMA Network Open.
Shuai Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing, and colleagues examined the efficacy and safety of taVNS versus sham taVNS for chronic insomnia in a randomized clinical trial involving patients with chronic insomnia disorder with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) of at least 8. Patients were randomly allocated to active taVNS (36 patients) or sham taVNS (36 participants) and received the stimulation for 30 minutes each time, twice a day for five consecutive days for eight weeks. Follow-up was for 12 weeks.
The researchers found that the least-squares mean changes from baseline to week 8 in PSQI were −8.2 and −3.9 points in the taVNS and sham groups, respectively. From before to after the intervention, both groups experienced significant improvements. However, a clinically meaningful, significant 4.2-point greater reduction was seen in PSQI in the active taVNS versus the sham group (minimal clinically important difference, 2.5 points). Similar favorable results were seen in secondary outcomes, including mental health and fatigue. Throughout the 20-week study period, the efficacy of taVNS was sustained.
"This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting taVNS as a promising nonpharmacological intervention for chronic insomnia disorder," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2024
Read this next
Usual/Permanent Night Shifts, Poor Sleep Quality Linked to Epilepsy
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2024 -- Night shifts and poor sleep quality are associated with an increased risk for incident epilepsy, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in BMC...
Irregular Sleep Linked to Increased Risk for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2024 -- Irregular sleep is associated with an increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), according to a study published online Nov. 26 in the...
Bidirectional Association Seen for Sleep Disorders, Chronic Kidney Disease
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 20, 2024 -- There are bidirectional associations for sleep disorders with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a review published in the November issue of...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.