Status:
RECRUITING
tVNS, Motivation, and Insulin Sensitivity
Lead Sponsor:
University of Bonn
Conditions:
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Eligibility:
All Genders
18-60 years
Phase:
NA
Brief Summary
Disturbances in energy metabolism significantly increase the risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD), especially in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Insulin sensitivity may particularly im...
Detailed Description
To assess where individual reward deficits manifest, participants will undergo an intake session that includes clinical interviews, a fasting blood draw, and a battery of reward tasks (Reward Rating, ...
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion
- Inclusion criteria:
- Participants with depression (DSM-5 diagnosis) or participants without depression (no DSM-5 diagnosis, lifetime)
- BMI between 18.5 and 40 kg/m²
- Age between 18 and 60 years
- Legally valid informed consent
- Exclusion criteria:
- The following diagnoses in medical history:
- Brain injury
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Severe substance use disorder
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Epilepsy
- Chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, etc.)
- Type I diabetes
- The following diagnoses within 12 months prior to the experiment:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Somatic symptom disorder
- Eating disorder
- The following diagnoses in medical history for control participants:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders (except specific phobias)
- Generally:
- Contraindications for MRI (e.g., metal implants, claustrophobia) or taVNS (e.g., piercings, sore or diseased skin on the outer right ear)
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women will not be included
- Unclear capacity to consent
- Stomach surgeries affecting body weight (e.g., bypass surgeries)
Exclusion
Key Trial Info
Start Date :
October 10 2025
Trial Type :
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation :
ESTIMATED
End Date :
December 1 2027
Estimated Enrollment :
120 Patients enrolled
Trial Details
Trial ID
NCT07198100
Start Date
October 10 2025
End Date
December 1 2027
Last Update
December 24 2025
Active Locations (1)
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1
Section of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn
Bonn, Germany, 53127