F93
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: Intervention Arm (tVNS + guided imagery)
Participants receive 10 sessions of transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) combined with standardized guided imagery over 10 consecutive days.
Sponsors
Universitätsmedizin Rostock
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
6 Years to 16 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Inpatient treatment in a child and adolescent psychiatric setting. Clinically relevant hyperarousal, defined as increased psychophysiological activation (e.g., pronounced inner tension, autonomic hyperreactivity, emotional dysregulation), based on clinical assessment during treatment. Sufficient language and cognitive abilities to participate in questionnaires and the intervention. Written informed consent from legal guardians and assent from the child/adolescent.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Neurological disorders associated with increased seizure risk or untreated epilepsy. Implanted electronic medical devices (e.g., pacemaker). Acute psychotic symptoms. Severe cognitive impairment preventing participation in the intervention or assessments. Dermatological conditions at the electrode placement site. Concurrent participation in another interventional study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in heart rate variability (RMSSD derived from ECG) during the resting phase (10 minutes prior to the intervention) from Day 1 to Day 10 between groups (tVNS + guided imagery vs. guided imagery only). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in self-reported hyperarousal (PH-C total score) and connectivity in EEG from Day 1 to Day 10 between groups (tVNS + guided imagery vs. guided imagery only). | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactHannes Brehme
Universitätmedizin Rostock, Klinik für Psychiatrie, Neurologie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie im Kindes- und Jugendalter, Department für Psychosoziale Medizin
Outcome results
None listed