Effect of Stellate Ganglion Block on Sleep Quality in Patients With Depression

\# Brief Summary

This clinical research study looks at whether stellate ganglion block (SGB) can improve sleep quality for people with depression. Poor sleep often goes together with depression. Medicines used for these conditions may cause side-effects or dependency. Researchers want to learn if SGB, a minimally-invasive nerve treatment, can help sleep and mood without those medicine-related downsides.

This study uses a self-controlled design. Every person who joins will receive the study treatment. No separate comparison group is enrolled. Researchers will collect sleep data from each participant before treatment and again after treatment, then compare these two sets of information.

About 42 participants will take part in this study.

Key requirements to join the study:

* Aged 18 to 65 years old * Have depression-related symptoms and sleep trouble * Able to understand and sign an informed consent form * No medical conditions that make SGB unsafe * Have not taken sleep-affecting medicines or received other sleep-focused treatments in the past one month * Can follow study schedules and complete all study assessments

People cannot join if they:

* Are younger than 18 years or older than 65 years * Are pregnant or breastfeeding * Have known allergies to study-used medicines * Have unstable serious organ diseases, uncontrolled substance or alcohol dependence * Cannot keep fixed daily routines or finish all study visits

Study procedures for each participant:

1. On study day zero (D0): Study staff will explain the study fully. Participants will sign informed consent. Staff will run physical checks and blood tests. Participants will fill out several simple questionnaires about mood and sleep. Sleep will be measured overnight with a multi-channel sleep recording device called polysomnography (PSG). Participants also keep a short sleep diary. 2. From study day one (D1) to day five (D5): Participants get one SGB treatment each day, for a total of five treatments. During SGB, a doctor uses ultrasound guidance to inject small-dose local anesthetic near nerves in the neck. Participants keep completing their sleep diary every day. Study staff watch for any unwanted reactions during each treatment. 3. On the night of D5 through early morning of D6: PSG sleep recording will be repeated after the final SGB treatment. 4. On study day six (D6): Participants finish the final set of mood-and-sleep questionnaires. Study staff collect all safety information.

Researchers will compare sleep measurements taken before treatment versus after five-day SGB treatment. Collected data includes objective sleep readings from PSG and self-reported sleep information from sleep diaries. Questionnaires will show changes in depression and insomnia symptoms.

Possible benefits: SGB may make participants' sleep better and may ease depression-related symptoms. No benefit is guaranteed for every participant.

Possible risks: SGB is generally safe. Rare unwanted reactions may include temporary hoarseness, local neck-site infection, or drug allergic responses. Study doctors will watch participants closely. If serious problems happen, immediate medical help will be provided.

All participants' private personal information will be protected. Participants can choose to stop taking part in this research at any time without penalty.