Evaluating the Efficacy of Bilateral Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Reducing Migraine Symptoms: A Prospective Observational Study

Background:
Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder with a significant impact on patients' quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bilateral non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (BnVNS) on migraine frequency, pain intensity, mood, stress levels, and quality of life.

Methods:
Twenty participants, stratified by migraine frequency, were included in this pilot feasibility study. BnVNS therapy was administered over a 6-week period. Data were collected daily on migraine frequency, pain severity, mood, stress, and quality of life using the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life (MSQ) questionnaire and additional custom-developed questions assessing daily mood and stress levels.

Results:
Migraine frequency decreased by 40.35%, pain days were reduced by 27.66%, and pain intensity decreased by 42.46% (p < 0.001). Despite these improvements, a 9.48% decrease in reported quality of life was observed, potentially due to external life stressors. Mood (13.89%) and stress levels (20.29%) showed improvements.