Study of Combined taVNS and tACS Treatment for Adolescents Aged 12 to 18 With Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the effects of combining transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation taVNS with transcranial alternating current stimulation tACS on adolescents who engage in non-suicidal self-injury NSSI. This study aims to validate whether using taVNS as a priming technique before tACS can improve treatment response consistency and reduce impulsivity and attentional bias related to self-injury. The trial will also explore early behavioral markers that predict long-term treatment benefits and examine neuroimaging changes associated with this combined approach. Participants receive one of three interventions combined active taVNS for 15 minutes followed by 20 minutes of 10 Hz active tACS sham taVNS with active tACS or active taVNS with sham tACS. Active taVNS targets the ear area connected to the vagus nerve, while tACS is applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex using a special electrode setup. Treatments are given twice daily with at least 4 hours between sessions, for 7 consecutive days, totaling 14 sessions. During the study, adolescents will be evaluated at baseline, day 1, week 1, and month 1 after treatment using questionnaires assessing self-injury frequency and impulsivity, eye movement tracking, and cognitive tasks. Additional assessments include depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, and mood scales. The study monitors behavioral improvements and brain changes to understand treatment effects and improve individualized care for adolescents with NSSI.

Effects of taVNS Combined With tACS on Adolescents With Non-Suicidal Self-Injury