Therapeutic Efficacy of Neurostimulation for Depression: Techniques, Current Modalities, and Future Challenges

Akhtar, Hafsah; Bukhari, Faiza; Nazir, Misbah; Anwar, Muhammad Ayaz; Shahzad, Adeeb

doi:10.1007/s12264-015-0009-2

Cited by 44 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…Depression is clinical disorder known to result from a disruption of brain neurochemistry (Akhtar et al, 2016 ). It is a neuronal abnormality characterized by disorders of mood, cognitive function, and neurovegatative functions and has a wide range of causes (Akhtar et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Various Stimulation Targets For a Specific Disordermentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing Brain Networks Through Non-invasive Neuromodulation

Ridder

Hart

et al. 2018

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

101

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Background/Objective: Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, such as repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), have increasingly been investigated for their potential as treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Despite widespread dissemination of these techniques, the underlying therapeutic mechanisms and the ideal stimulation site for a given disorder remain unknown. Increasing evidence support the possibility of non-invasive neuromodulation affecting a brain network rather than just the local stimulation target. In this article, we present evidence in a clinical setting to support the idea that non-invasive neuromodulation changes brain networks.Method: This article addresses the idea that non-invasive neuromodulation modulates brain networks, rather than just the local stimulation target, using neuromodulation studies in tinnitus and major depression as examples. We present studies that support this hypothesis from different perspectives.Main Results/Conclusion: Studies stimulating the same brain region, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), have shown to be effective for several disorders and studies using different stimulation sites for the same disorder have shown similar results. These findings, as well as results from studies investigating brain network connectivity on both macro and micro levels, suggest that non-invasive neuromodulation affects a brain network rather than just the local stimulation site targeted. We propose that non-invasive neuromodulation should be approached from a network perspective and emphasize the therapeutic potential of this approach through the modulation of targeted brain networks.

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Section: Various Stimulation Targets For a Specific Disordermentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing Brain Networks Through Non-invasive Neuromodulation

Ridder

Hart

et al. 2018

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

101

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“…Future studies should also address the optimal settings for VNS and the best site to stimulate the vagus nerve. Parkinson's disease Approved [94][95][96] Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) Epilepsy Approved [97,98] Depression Approved [93,99] Tinnitus Approved [100] Stroke Under investigation [101] Rheumatoid arthritis Under investigation [78] Crohn's disease Under investigation [89,102] Heart failure Under investigation [103,104] Baroreceptor stimulation Hypertension and heart failure Approved [105] Phrenic nerve stimulation Central sleep apnoea Approved [106] Sacral nerve stimulation Over Active Bladder and urinary incontinence Approved [107] Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Approved [108] Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) Chronic pain Approved [109] Vagus nerve block (vBloc) Obesity Approved [110] Vagus nerve stimulation in RA / F…”

Section: The Effects Of Vagus Nerve Stimulation On Inflammation In Humentioning

confidence: 99%

Balancing the autonomic nervous system to reduce inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

et al. 2017

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Imbalance in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) has been observed in many established chronic autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is a prototypic immune‐mediated inflammatory disease (IMID). We recently discovered that autonomic dysfunction precedes and predicts arthritis development in subjects at risk of developing seropositive RA. In addition, RA patients with relatively high vagus nerve tone (higher parasympathetic parameters, measured by heart rate variability) respond better to antirheumatic therapies. Together, these data suggest that the ANS may control inflammation in humans. This notion is supported by experimental studies in animal models of RA. We have found that stimulation of the so‐called cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway by efferent electrical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) or pharmacological activation of the alpha7 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) improves clinical signs and symptoms of arthritis, reduces cytokine production and protects against progressive joint destruction. Conversely, increased arthritis activity was observed in alpha7nAChR knockout mice. These studies together with previous work in animal models of sepsis and other forms of inflammation provided the rationale for an experimental clinical trial in patients with RA. We could for the first time show that an implantable vagus nerve stimulator inhibits peripheral blood cytokine production in humans. VNS significantly inhibited TNF and IL‐6 production and improved RA disease severity, even in some patients with therapy‐resistant disease. This work strongly supports further studies using a bioelectronic approach to treat RA and other IMIDs.

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“…Although there are various ways to modulate the activity of a specific brain area, such as random noise stimulation, ultrasound stimulation, electoral stimulation, and magnetic stimulation, recent research has been focusing on the latter two [76,77]. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are two of the best-studied approaches for treating drug addiction and other mental disorders [76][77][78][79]. Studies have shown that stimulating dorsal lateral PFC by TMS and tDCS were effective to reduce craving, improve cognition, and ameliorate the mood states in subjects using major drugs of abuse [76,80].…”

Section: Brain Stimulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug addiction: a curable mental disorder?

Liu

2018

Acta Pharmacol Sin

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Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disorder. Multiple neural networks in the brain including the reward system (e.g., the mesocorticolimbic system), the anti-reward/stress system (e.g., the extended amygdala), and the central immune system, are involved in the development of drug addiction and relapse after withdrawal from drugs of abuse. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that it is promising to control drug addiction by pharmacologically targeting the addiction-related systems in the brain. Here we review the pharmacological targets within the dopamine system, glutamate system, trace amine system, antireward system, and central immune system, which are of clinical interests. Furthermore, we discuss other potential therapies, e.g., brain stimulation, behavioral treatments, and therapeutic gene modulation, which could be effective to treat drug addiction. We conclude that, although drug addiction is a complex disorder that involves complicated neural mechanisms and psychological processes, this mental disorder is treatable and may be curable by therapies such as gene modulation in the future.

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Therapeutic Efficacy of Neurostimulation for Depression: Techniques, Current Modalities, and Future Challenges

Cited by 44 publications

References 104 publications

Changing Brain Networks Through Non-invasive Neuromodulation

Changing Brain Networks Through Non-invasive Neuromodulation

Balancing the autonomic nervous system to reduce inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

Drug addiction: a curable mental disorder?

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