Psychiatria pre prax 2–3/2010

Vagus nerve stimulation in treatment-resistant depression

Currently available therapeutic interventions for treatment-resistant depression are limited. Reports of antidepressant effects independent of seizure control in patients with epilepsy, along with the use of multiple anticonvulstants in the treatment of depression, has led to the investigation of vagus nerve stimulation treatment as a potential adjunctive treatment for depression. Numerous, almost open studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of this kind of treatment in reducing severity of depression and the efficacy increased over time. Vagus nerve stimulation treatment seems to be an interesting new approach to treating medication-resistant depression. Despite the promising results reported mainly in open studies, further clinical research is needed to confirm its efficacy in treatmentresistant depression.

Keywords: vagus nerve stimulation, treatment-resistant depression.