tVNS for Depression
Depressive Disorder
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Depressive Disorder
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- patients between 18 and 69 years
- patients with a diagnosis of depression according to the SCID
- score greater than or equal to 18 on the Hamilton Rating Scale 17-item version (equivalent to moderate or severe depressive episode)
- agreement to participate in the study as recommended in the IC.
Exclusion Criteria:
- patients with psychiatric indication for hospitalization
- patients with psychiatric comorbidity
- patients with a diagnosis of personality disorder
- presence of severe neurological or medical diseases such as neoplasms in activity, neurodegenerative diseases and chronic diseases uncompensated.
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Sham Comparator
ACTIVE tVNS
SHAM tVNS
tVNS will be applied by the external simulator (Monarch). The stimulation will be conducted at a frequency of 120 Hz with pulse duration of 250 microseconds. The current intensity will be individually established and should be equivalent to a slight feeling of not painful paresthesia .The stimulus generates a pulse and asymmetric biphasic waveform. Electrodes (25cm2) will be placed over the mastoid process bilaterally. The study protocol will follow the rational of our previous trials with TNS.
tVNS will be applied by the external simulator (Monarch). The stimulation will be turned off after 60 seconds following previous trials.