Stellate ganglion block associated with changes in depression and anxiety in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A retrospective observational study

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is often accompanied by depression and anxiety. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is useful to treat ISSNHL by enhancing cochlear perfusion. Recently, SGB has been reported to improve depressive symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder, but it remains unclear whether SGB can decrease depressive symptoms and anxiety in patients with ISSNHL. In this single-center retrospective observational study, 35 patients with ISSNHL were included. Patients were treated with dexamethasone, low-molecular-weight dextran, and SGB. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Beck depression inventory (BDI) and generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) before treatment (baseline), 1 hour after the 1st SGB (1 H) and 30 days after treatment (30D). Auditory function was evaluated by pure-tone audiometry (PTA) before and 30 days after treatment. PTA threshold significantly improved at 30D (47.9 ± 27.7), compared to baseline (68.0 ± 23.2) (P < .001). The BDI significantly decreased at 1 H (5.5 ± 8.0) and 30D (4.5 ± 7.4), compared to baseline (9.1 ± 8.2) (P < .0001). The GAD-7 significantly decreased at 1 H (2.3 ± 3.0) and Day 30 (1.9 ± 2.6), compared to baseline (4.7 ± 3.6) (P < .0001). However, improvement in PTA is not correlated with improvement in BDI or GAD-7. SGB was associated with significant decreases in depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with ISSNHL, which were not correlated with hearing recovery. These findings suggest that SGB may provide a potential benefit for mood improvement, independent of its effect on hearing recovery in this population.