Improved mood and remission of symptoms in long-term major depression using vagus nerve stimulation.

This is a case study of a 68-year-old woman with previously unremitting depression. The patient came to our care in 1994 following a series of treatment interventions that did not alter the course of chronic depression. We report our treatment approach and results seen with this patient, including her tepid response to traditional antidepressants and the positive results seen in the past year using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy. The patient experienced broad gains in measures of depression severity and well-being under her current treatment regimen. She has had no serious adverse events associated with the regimen, which includes VNS therapy and decreased doses of common antidepressant medications.