Effects of Left and Bilateral Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Pain, Mood, and Autonomic Function in Female Fibromyalgia Patients

NCT ID: NCT06871306

Last Updated: 2025-07-02

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

40 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-08-02

Study Completion Date

2022-10-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This study aimed to examine the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on pain, depression, anxiety, functionality, and autonomic function in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

primary hypothesis: TAVSS application is not an effective treatment for depression, physical limitation, functional disability, anxiety, pain and autonomic nerve system in female FMS patients.

secondary hypothesis: TAVSS application is an effective treatment for depression, physical limitation, functional disability, anxiety, pain and autonomic nerve system in female FMS patients.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Left taVNS

Left taVNS group received taVNS stimulation through the left ear for 11 sessions.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

taVNS was performed using the Vagustim device (Vagustim Health Technologies, Teknokent, Istanbul, Türkiye) at the tragus and concha regions for 30 minutes, with a frequency of 25 Hz and a pulse width of 300 µs in both groups. The difference in stimulation between the groups depends only on to which ear it was applied. Electrical stimulation was increased in 0.1 mA steps until the detection threshold was reached.

Bilateral taVNS

Bilateral taVNS group received taVNS stimulation through the bilateral ears for 11 sessions.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

taVNS was performed using the Vagustim device (Vagustim Health Technologies, Teknokent, Istanbul, Türkiye) at the tragus and concha regions for 30 minutes, with a frequency of 25 Hz and a pulse width of 300 µs in both groups. The difference in stimulation between the groups depends only on to which ear it was applied. Electrical stimulation was increased in 0.1 mA steps until the detection threshold was reached.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

taVNS was performed using the Vagustim device (Vagustim Health Technologies, Teknokent, Istanbul, Türkiye) at the tragus and concha regions for 30 minutes, with a frequency of 25 Hz and a pulse width of 300 µs in both groups. The difference in stimulation between the groups depends only on to which ear it was applied. Electrical stimulation was increased in 0.1 mA steps until the detection threshold was reached.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Female volunteer participants
* Aged 18-45 with regular menstrual cycles
* Diagnosed with FMS (Widespread Pain Index≥ 17
* Symptom Severity Scale≥ 21) according to the 2013 ACR diagnostic criteria by a specialist physician.

Exclusion Criteria

* Neurological deficits,
* Diabetes
* Neuropathic disorders
* Chronic inflammation
* Immune deficiencies
* Cardiac diseases
* Pregnancy
* Being in the perimenopausal or postmenopausal stages,
* Menstrual cycles of less than 28 days,
* Started new medication within the last 3 months,
* Modifications to their existing treatment apart from taVNS.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Fenerbahce University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Burcu AKKURT

PHD

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Sancak Tıp Merkezi

Istanbul, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Turkey (Türkiye)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

12.08.2021/31

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Effects of taVNS on Fibromyalgia Pain
NCT06193317 NOT_YET_RECRUITING NA
Post-stroke Pain taVNS
NCT06456385 COMPLETED NA