Effectiveness of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in alleviating postpartum blues following cesarean delivery: A randomized double-blind controlled trial.
J Affect DisordJul 16, 2026 (epub)
Qian Cheng, Man Lu, Yi Chen et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial assessed the effectiveness of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in reducing postpartum blues (PPB) in 100 women following cesarean delivery. The active taVNS group showed a significantly smaller increase in PPB severity on day 5 compared to the sham group, with a median difference of 4.13 cm (95% CI, 3.39-4.93; p < 0.001).
Key findings
- Active taVNS reduced PPB severity by a median difference of 4.13 cm on day 5 compared to sham.
- At 1 month postpartum, 4% of the active group had EPDS scores ≥13 versus 26% in the sham group (p = 0.003).
- Active taVNS significantly lowered postoperative pain scores at multiple time points (all p < 0.001).
- Improved sleep quality was observed in the active group on postoperative days 1 to 4 (all p < 0.001).
Why it matters
Postpartum blues can precede more severe postpartum depression, impacting maternal well-being and infant care. Effective interventions like taVNS may help mitigate these early symptoms, potentially reducing the risk of progression to depression.