Vagus nerve stimulation was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) as an adjunctive treatment for chronic or recurrent depression. Here are some basic definitions to help you better understand this remarkable treatment:

• Adjunctive
  Additional, add-on. Used to describe a treatment used at the same time as other treatments. VNS Therapy is adjunctive therapyit is added on to other antidepressant treatments.

• Chronic
  Long-lasting. Chronic depression refers to an episode of depression lasting 2 years or more.

• Clinical studies
  Tests of the effectiveness and safety of a treatment on people who have the illness the treatment is intended to help.

• Depression
  An illness characterized by sadness or low mood, lack of interest in things usually enjoyed, loss of energy, changes in sleep patterns, changes in appetite or weight, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, restlessness or lethargy, and repeated thoughts of death or suicide.

• Depressive episode
  A period of depression.

• Electrodes
  Part of the VNS Therapy system that connects to the vagus nerve.

• General anesthesia
  Anesthesia that makes the patient unconscious.

• Major depressive disorder
  A disease characterized by sadness or low mood, lack of interest in things usually enjoyed, loss of energy, changes in sleep patterns, changes in appetite or weight, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, restlessness or lethargy, and repeated thoughts of death or suicide. At least 5 of these symptoms (including at least 1 of the first 2) most or all of every day for at least 2 weeks is required for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.

• Neurotransmitter
  A naturally occurring chemical that affects nerve and/or brain function.

• Norepinephrine
  A neurotransmitter implicated in depression.

• Pulse generator
  A device-like a pacemaker that sends impulses to the brain via the left vagus nerve.

• Recurrent
  Happening more than once. Recurrent depression refers to several episodes of depression occurring over time.

• Serotonin
  A neurotransmitter implicated in depression.

• Vagus nerve
  One of the primary communication pathways from the major organs of the body to the brain, the vagus nerves travel from major body organs to the brain. VNS Therapy involves the left vagus nerve only.

You can learn more about neurostimulation and vagus nerve stimulation for depression on the http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com web site.

Charles Donovan

Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. He was implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in April of 2001. He chronicles his journey from the grips of depression thanks to vagus nerve stimulation therapy in his book:

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression