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Pharmacopsychiatry 2011; 44(2): 67-71
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1268427
Original Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Changes in Gustatory Perceptions of Patients with Major Depression Treated with Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)

W. Sperling1 , 4 , T. Biermann1 , 4 , R. Spannenberger1 , M. Clepce1 , F. Padberg2 , U. Reulbach3 , J. Kornhuber1 , N. Thuerauf1
  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
  • 2Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilians Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
  • 3Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
  • 4These authors contributed equally to this work
Further Information

Publication History

received 26.07.2010 revised 06.10.2010

accepted 19.10.2010

Publication Date:
14 December 2010 (online)

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Abstract

Background: Olfactory and gustatory functions were investigated before and during vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in a group of 9 patients with therapy-resistant depression, implanted with a VNS system.

Methods: Gustation and olfaction were tested using standard sniffing tests. Subjects participated in 2 sessions with the vagal stimulator switched on and off, respectively.

Results: Under conditions of stimulation of the VNS, there were statistically significant differences of the threshold of perception, with an intensification of the taste “sweet” (Z=−2.0; p=0.048) and “bitter” (Z=−2.5; p=0.011) compared to the “off-mode”. A statistical trend (Z=−1.7; p=0.098) for increased intensity of the taste “salty” was observed, however, these results would supposedly disappear after correction for multiple testing presumably due to the large number of variables and the small sample size. There were no statistically relevant differences concerning olfactory perception.

Conclusions: The changes of gustatory perception under conditions of vagal nerve stimulation observed in this study show another important central nervous effect of vagal stimulation on the limbic system that might be of importance in the elucidation of mechanisms of action of VNS especially on refractory depression.

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Correspondence

W. SperlingMD 

Department of Psychiatry and

Psychotherapy

University Hospital of Erlangen

Schwabachanlage 6

91054 Erlangen

Germany

Phone: +49/9131/853 6194

Fax: +49/9131/853 6002

Email: Wolfgang.Sperling@uk-erlangen.de