Benefit
of vagus nerve stimulation in major depression
after one year
Promising
results have been obtained by using vagus nerve
stimulation in patients suffering from major
depression and resistant to classical treatment
in an open, acute phase pilot study. In order to
verify whether these initial interesting effects
were sustained overtime and whether changes in
functional status would be found, an open,
naturalistic follow-up study was undertaken.
Thirty adult out-patients with a non-psychotic
major depressive episode and resistant to
classical treatment received an additional 9
months vagus nerve stimulation treatment after
the end of the 3-month acute pilot study.
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression was used to
evaluate the response (reduction of at least 50%
in baseline total score) and remission (equal to
or less than 10). The response rate was
sustained (40% after 3 months; 46%, after an
additional 9 months p = 0.317) and the remission
rate was significantly enhanced (17% after 3
months; 29% after an additional 9 months, p =
0.045). In addition significant improvements
were observed in function between the short-term
study exit and the one-year follow-up evaluation
measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short
Form-36. This long-term vagus nerve stimulation
treatment confirms the promising effects of the
acute study with a sustained symptomatic benefit
and an improved functioning. Biol
Psychiatry 51: 280-287, 2002