Vagus nerve stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: is this therapy distinct from other antidepressant treatments?

International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice
Andrei Vlaicu, Mihaela Bustuchina Vlaicu

Abstract

The treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a very disabling disease. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the therapeutic activity of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy system in TRD. We summarised the progress made during the last decade in this area. We conducted a non-systematic review on the efficacy and safety of the VNS therapy for this disease. We analysed the results from acute and long-term studies that utilised this technique. Major electronic databases were searched. The patients with TRD may show acute and long-term benefit when treated with this technique. There are promising results for VNS therapy for these patients. The level of evidence as an acute treatment option is only 3, but as chronic treatment is 2. This therapy should be offered as an added long-term treatment option for patients with chronic and recurrent difficult to treat depression. The antidepressant effects of this procedure remain controversial. The clinical trials have produced mixed results, but VNS therapy for TRD has two distinct features that differentiate it from other antidepressant treatments: a sustained therapeutic response obtained in highly resistant depressive disorders, a favourable safety profile and guaranteed ...Continue Reading

References

Oct 18, 2003·Journal of Psychiatric Research·Jeong-Ho ChaeMark S George
Apr 12, 2005·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Duncan A Groves, Verity J Brown
Sep 29, 2005·The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry·Ziad NahasMark S George
Apr 28, 2006·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Charles B NemeroffStephen K Brannan
Jan 5, 2007·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Ziad NahasMark S George
Jan 8, 2008·Psychological Medicine·T E SchlaepferM Hasdemir
Apr 1, 2008·Journal of Affective Disorders·Claire DabanEduard Vieta
Jun 24, 2008·Biological Psychiatry·Andrew A NierenbergDavid Mischoulon
Sep 23, 2008·Experimental Neurology·David ReveszThorleif Thorlin
Apr 29, 2009·Experimental Neurology·A John Rush, Susan E Siefert
May 18, 2010·Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology·Malek BajboujIsabella Heuser
Dec 21, 2010·Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy·Riccardo RuffoliFrancesco Fornai
May 14, 2011·Experimental Neurology·Marlien AalbersKim Rijkers
Dec 6, 2011·European Psychiatry : the Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·J L R Martin, E Martín-Sánchez
Sep 8, 2012·Journal of Medical Economics·Rachel L FeldmanDevin A Stone
Jan 24, 2015·European Journal of Neurology : the Official Journal of the European Federation of Neurological Societies·E Ben-MenachemS Silberstein
Jun 28, 2015·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Annelies GrimonprezKristl Vonck
Sep 19, 2015·Headache·Hsiangkuo Yuan, Stephen D Silberstein
Aug 4, 2016·Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie·Roumen V MilevUNKNOWN CANMAT Depression Work Group
Nov 17, 2016·Journal of Neural Transmission·Camelia-Lucia CimpianuAlkomiet Hasan
Jul 6, 2017·Journal of Clinical Neuroscience : Official Journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia·Helge H O MüllerWolfgang Sperling
Jun 6, 2018·The Journal of ECT·Véronique Desbeaumes JodoinPaul Lespérance
Aug 14, 2018·The Psychiatric Clinics of North America·Alexander McGirr, Marcelo T Berlim
Aug 29, 2018·The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry·Charles R ConwayA John Rush
Feb 16, 2019·Frontiers in Psychology·Hang LvHao Chen
Mar 13, 2019·Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment·Arun KumarAugustus J Rush

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.