Efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) on adults with insomnia: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial
Introduction Insomnia, a widespread sleep disorder, affects a significant portion of the global population. This study is the first in Asia to evaluate the efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) as a treatment for insomnia in Hong Kong adults, addressing a gap in non-pharmacological in...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19585969.2025.2526547 |
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| author | Teris Cheung Joyce Yuen Ting Lam Kwan Hin Fong Calvin Pak-Wing Cheng Yu-Tao Xiang Tim Man Ho Li |
| author_facet | Teris Cheung Joyce Yuen Ting Lam Kwan Hin Fong Calvin Pak-Wing Cheng Yu-Tao Xiang Tim Man Ho Li |
| author_sort | Teris Cheung |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Insomnia, a widespread sleep disorder, affects a significant portion of the global population. This study is the first in Asia to evaluate the efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) as a treatment for insomnia in Hong Kong adults, addressing a gap in non-pharmacological interventions.Methods A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial was conducted with 101 adults exhibiting insomnia symptoms. Participants were randomized into active VeNS or sham groups (1:1 ratio) and underwent twenty 30-minute VeNS sessions over four weeks. Psychological outcomes, including insomnia severity, sleep quality, and quality of life were assessed at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2). Follow-up assessments were conducted at one- (T3) and three-month (T4) to evaluate the sustainability of VeNS effects.Results Of 83 participants (40 VeNS and 43 sham-VeNS), the VeNS group showed significant reductions in insomnia severity at T2 (p = 0.03, d = -0.47) and T4 (p = 0.02, d = -0.32), alongside improved quality of life (i.e., role-physical) at T2.Conclusion VeNS is a novel, non-invasive and safe neuromodulation device that may serve as an adjunct treatment for primary insomnia. The present findings provide a foundation for future multisite comparison studies to further evaluate VeNS efficacy.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04452981 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7ce50b91cb7d40eea0ac19d38aabcd5b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1958-5969 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
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| series | Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-7ce50b91cb7d40eea0ac19d38aabcd5b2025-08-20T03:50:25ZengTaylor & Francis GroupDialogues in Clinical Neuroscience1958-59692025-12-0127123624810.1080/19585969.2025.2526547Efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) on adults with insomnia: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trialTeris Cheung0Joyce Yuen Ting Lam1Kwan Hin Fong2Calvin Pak-Wing Cheng3Yu-Tao Xiang4Tim Man Ho Li5School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaSchool of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaSchool of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaIntroduction Insomnia, a widespread sleep disorder, affects a significant portion of the global population. This study is the first in Asia to evaluate the efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) as a treatment for insomnia in Hong Kong adults, addressing a gap in non-pharmacological interventions.Methods A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial was conducted with 101 adults exhibiting insomnia symptoms. Participants were randomized into active VeNS or sham groups (1:1 ratio) and underwent twenty 30-minute VeNS sessions over four weeks. Psychological outcomes, including insomnia severity, sleep quality, and quality of life were assessed at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2). Follow-up assessments were conducted at one- (T3) and three-month (T4) to evaluate the sustainability of VeNS effects.Results Of 83 participants (40 VeNS and 43 sham-VeNS), the VeNS group showed significant reductions in insomnia severity at T2 (p = 0.03, d = -0.47) and T4 (p = 0.02, d = -0.32), alongside improved quality of life (i.e., role-physical) at T2.Conclusion VeNS is a novel, non-invasive and safe neuromodulation device that may serve as an adjunct treatment for primary insomnia. The present findings provide a foundation for future multisite comparison studies to further evaluate VeNS efficacy.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04452981https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19585969.2025.2526547Vestibular stimulationinsomniarandomised clinical trialbrain stimulationefficacy |
| spellingShingle | Teris Cheung Joyce Yuen Ting Lam Kwan Hin Fong Calvin Pak-Wing Cheng Yu-Tao Xiang Tim Man Ho Li Efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) on adults with insomnia: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience Vestibular stimulation insomnia randomised clinical trial brain stimulation efficacy |
| title | Efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) on adults with insomnia: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial |
| title_full | Efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) on adults with insomnia: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) on adults with insomnia: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) on adults with insomnia: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial |
| title_short | Efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) on adults with insomnia: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial |
| title_sort | efficacy of electrical vestibular stimulation vens on adults with insomnia a double blind randomized sham controlled trial |
| topic | Vestibular stimulation insomnia randomised clinical trial brain stimulation efficacy |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19585969.2025.2526547 |
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