Transcutaneous Cervical Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Pilot Study of Effects on PTSD Symptoms and Interleukin-6 Response to Stress

• Authors: J. Douglas Bremner, Emory University; Matthew T Wittbrodt, Emory University; Nil Z. Gurel, Georgia Institute of Technology; Md Mobashir H. Shandhi, Georgia Institute of Technology; Asim H. Gazi, Georgia Institute of Technology; Yunshen Jiao, Emory University; Oleksiy M. Levantsevych, Emory University; Minxuan Huang, Emory University; Joy Beckwith, Emory University; Isaias Herring, Emory University; Nancy Murrah, Emory University; Emily G Driggers, Emory University; Yi-An Ko, Emory University; Mhmt Jamil L. Alkhalaf, Emory University; Majd Soudan, Emory University; Lucy Shallenberger, Emory University; Allison N. Hankus, Emory University; Jonathon Nye, Emory University; Jeanie Park, Emory University; Anna Woodbury, Emory University; Puja Mehta, Emory University; Mark Rapaport, Emory University; Viola Vaccarino, Emory University; Amit Shah, Emory University; Bradley Pearce, Emory University; Omer T. Inan, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Journal Title: JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
• Volume: Volume 6
• Publisher: Elsevier | 2021-07-10
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100190
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Psychology, Clinical; Psychology, Behavioral

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly disabling condition associated with alterations in multiple neurobiological systems, including increases in inflammatory and sympathetic function, responsible for maintenance of symptoms. Treatment options including medications and psychotherapies have limitations. We previously showed that transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tcVNS) blocks inflammatory (interleukin (IL)-6) responses to stress in PTSD. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of tcVNS on PTSD symptoms and inflammatory responses to stress.