Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for post-stroke depression: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: It is a well-established fact that post-stroke depression (PSD) is a prevalent condition that affects a significant proportion of individuals who have suffered a stroke. Hence, our research endeavors to explore the safety, efficacy and the potential molecular mechanism of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) for the treatment of depression in PSD patients by conducting a double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized trial.

Methods: Patients who had experienced strokes and exhibited depressive symptoms, with a Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) score of ≥8 and met the DSM-IV criteria, were diagnosed with PSD.