Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Protracted Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms in Male Alcohol-Dependent Patients

Wang, Yongmei; Xu, Yayun; Zhai, Yi; Wu, Qianqian; Huang, Wen; Yan, Liang; Sun, Yanhong; Lianyin, XU

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.678594

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…125 Specifically, regarding alcohol, one atVNS study in AUD patients showed reduced depression symptoms and improved sleep quality after withdrawal in the treatment group (receiving active stimulation) compared with the control group (receiving no stimulation). 126 Further, recent work by Grünberger and colleagues 127 found that after receiving atVNS, AUD patients displayed a decline in alcohol craving and an increased parasympathetic activity as measured by pupil dilation, which is known to mirror the activity of the LC-NA system. 80,81 Even though no correlation between alcohol cravings and pupil diameter was reported and no control group was included, this study provides promising results regarding the potential use of atVNS in treating AUD patients.…”

Section: (At)vns Addiction and Cognitive Controlmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…This suggests that this kind of stimulation might effectively alleviate withdrawal opioid symptoms 125 . Specifically, regarding alcohol, one atVNS study in AUD patients showed reduced depression symptoms and improved sleep quality after withdrawal in the treatment group (receiving active stimulation) compared with the control group (receiving no stimulation) 126 . Further, recent work by Grünberger and colleagues 127 found that after receiving atVNS, AUD patients displayed a decline in alcohol craving and an increased parasympathetic activity as measured by pupil dilation, which is known to mirror the activity of the LC‐NA system 80,81 .…”

Section: Atvns As a Possible Add‐on Treatment In Aud?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for alcohol use disorder: A chance to improve treatment?

et al. 2022

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Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a relapsing–remitting condition characterized by excessive and/or continued alcohol consumption despite harmful consequences. New adjuvant tools, such as noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, might be helpful additions to conventional treatment approaches or even provide an alternative option for patients who fail to respond adequately to other treatment options. Here, we discuss the potential use of auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (atVNS) as an ADD‐ON intervention in AUD. Compared with other techniques, atVNS has the advantage of directly stimulating nuclei that synthesize GABA and catecholamines, both of which are functionally altered by alcohol intake in AUD patients. Pharmacological options targeting those neurotransmitters are widely available, but have relatively limited beneficial effects on cognition, even though restoring normal cognitive functioning, especially cognitive control, is key to maintaining abstinence. Against this background, atVNS could be a particularly useful add‐on because there is substantial meta‐analytic evidence based on studies in healthy individuals that atVNS can enhance cognitive control processes that are crucial to regaining control over drug intake. We discuss essential future research on using atVNS as an ADD‐ON intervention in AUD to enhance clinical and cognitive outcomes by providing a translational application. Given that this novel technique can be worn like an earpiece and can be employed without medical supervision/outside the clinical settings, atVNS could be well integratable into the daily life of the patients, where the task of regaining control over drug intake is most challenging.

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Section: (At)vns Addiction and Cognitive Controlmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Atvns As a Possible Add‐on Treatment In Aud?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for alcohol use disorder: A chance to improve treatment?

et al. 2022

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“…For the examination of the effect of tVNS, we based our sample calculations on a study that investigated the effect of tVNS on protracted alcohol withdrawal symptoms in abstinent AUD patients (73). According to the changes in the craving scores, considering a 95% con dence interval, 80% power (α = 0.05), and the related mean and standard deviation (SD) of the craving scores in the aforementioned study (µ1 = 4.82; µ2 = 3.92; SD1 = 0.49; SD2 = 0.39) we estimate n = 40 for each group.…”

Section: Sample Sizementioning

confidence: 99%

Neuromodulation and Mindfulness as Therapeutic Treatment in Detoxified Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder

Rosenthal,

Haslacher,

Garbusow

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background Alcohol use disorder (AUD) poses a significant global health challenge. Traditional management strategies often face high relapse rates, leading to a need for innovative approaches. Mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) has emerged as a promising intervention to enhance cognitive control, reduce cue-related craving and improve interoceptive processing. Neuroimaging studies suggest that mindfulness training can modulate brain networks associated with these factors, potentially improving treatment outcomes for AUD. Neuroimaging studies suggest that mindfulness training can modulate brain networks linked to these brain functions, potentially improving treatment outcomes for AUD. However, it is unclear how MBRP links to neurophysiological measures such as frontal midline theta oscillations (FMΘ) and whether the beneficial effects of MBRP can be increased by enhancing FMΘ. Here, we will use two different forms of neuromodulation to target and enhance these oscillations, and evaluate their impact on the effectiveness of MBRP. Methods This study will employ a four-arm randomized controlled trial to evaluate the synergistic effects of MBRP augmented with transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) or closed-loop amplitude-modulated transcranial alternating current stimulation (CLAM-tACS) on cognitive control, cue reactivity and interoceptive processing in AUD patients. Participants will undergo six weekly group MBRP sessions and daily individual mindfulness practices. Assessments will include an inhibition task, cue-induced craving task, and heartbeat discrimination task, alongside heart rate variability and 32-channel EEG recordings. Participants will be assessed pre and post treatment, with a three-month follow-up to evaluate long-term effects on abstinence and alcohol consumption. Discussion This study will not only elucidate the causal link between FMΘ and efficacy of MBRP, but contribute to a better understanding of how combined psychological and neuromodulation interventions can improve treatment outcomes for AUD, potentially leading to more effective therapeutic strategies. This study also seeks to explore individual differences in response to treatment, which could inform future approaches to AUD management. Trial registration This study received approval by the Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin Institutional Review Board (EA1/030/23, 10.11.2023). It was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06308484).

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“…TaVNS has been found to promote neural plasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections. Studies have shown that taVNS can enhance long-term potentiation and increase the expression of neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF ( Wang Y. M. et al, 2021 ). This is particularly important for DOC patients, as it can promote the recovery of damaged neural pathways and the reconstruction of more functional neural circuits.…”

Section: The Impact Of Tavns On Consciousness In Docmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of disorders of consciousness: mechanisms and applications

Wang,

Gao,

Wang

et al. 2023

Front. Neurosci.

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This review provides an in-depth exploration of the mechanisms and applications of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in treating disorders of consciousness (DOC). Beginning with an exploration of the vagus nerve’s role in modulating brain function and consciousness, we then delve into the neuroprotective potential of taVNS demonstrated in animal models. The subsequent sections assess the therapeutic impact of taVNS on human DOC, discussing the safety, tolerability, and various factors influencing the treatment response. Finally, the review identifies the current challenges in taVNS research and outlines future directions, emphasizing the need for large-scale trials, optimization of treatment parameters, and comprehensive investigation of taVNS’s long-term effects and underlying mechanisms. This comprehensive overview positions taVNS as a promising and safe modality for DOC treatment, with a focus on understanding its intricate neurophysiological influence and optimizing its application in clinical settings.

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Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Protracted Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms in Male Alcohol-Dependent Patients

Cited by 7 publications

References 57 publications

Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for alcohol use disorder: A chance to improve treatment?

Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for alcohol use disorder: A chance to improve treatment?

Neuromodulation and Mindfulness as Therapeutic Treatment in Detoxified Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of disorders of consciousness: mechanisms and applications

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