Originally published October 3 2005
Chicago psychiatrists hope electronic implants will help treatment-resistant depression
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In a clinical trial at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center, the vagus nerve stimulator (VNS), an electronic implant, is fitted in the chest and neck of the patient, where it sends mild pulses through the vagus nerve into the brain to help treat depression.
Two small incisions are required: one on the upper chest area for the pulse generator and one on the left neck for the thin, flexible wires that connect the pulse generator to the vagus nerve.
The incisions heal in one to two weeks, and the scars fade over time.
"The pulse generator, which is like a pacemaker, is implanted in the chest area and sends mild pulses to the brain via the vagus nerve in the neck.
The device delivers very mild, intermittent, brief pulses to the left vagus nerve.
The pulses are then transmitted via the nerve to the central nervous system, to specific areas in the central nervous system that control mood, motivation, sleep, appetite, and other symptoms that are relevant to depression.
Several studies have shown that VNS Therapy may modulate neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine thought to be involved in mood regulation, according to Zajecka.
VNS Therapy is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a long-term adjunctive (add-on) treatment for patients 18 years of age and older who are experiencing a major depressive episode and have not had an adequate response to four or more antidepressant treatments.
"The availability of VNS Therapy is an important treatment option for millions of people who, until now, have not had access to a proven long-term option to control depressive symptoms.
Three percent of patients in the clinical trial experienced side effects of incision pain; voice alteration; incision site redness/itching, pain around the device and swelling and tenderness.
Zajecka says that in clinical studies of VNS Therapy, more than half of the patients who had experienced an average of 25 years of major depressive disorder and multiple treatment trials realized some clinical benefit, one third of the patients had at least a 50 percent improvement in their depression.
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