Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy is associated with a decrease in seizure frequency in partial-onset seizure patients. Initial trials suggest that it may be an effective treatment, with few side-effects, for intractable depression

Adolfsson, R

Audenaert, K

Bajbouj, M

Christmas, D

Corcoran, C

Frick, C

Hasdemir, M

Heuser, I

Hoff, H-J

Maier, W

Matthews, K

Müller-Siecheneder, F

O'Keane, V

Padberg, F

Rau, H

Schlaepfer, T E

Stanga, Z.

Trimble, M

Van den Abbeele, D

Zobel, A

Background. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy is associated with a decrease in seizure frequency in partial-onset seizure patients. Initial trials suggest that it may be an effective treatment, with few side-effects, for intractable depression.Method. An open, uncontrolled European multi-centre study (D03) of VNS therapy was conducted, in addition to stable pharmacotherapy, in 74 patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Treatment remained unchanged for the first 3 months; in the subsequent 9 months, medications and VNS dosing parameters were altered as indicated clinically.Results. The baseline 28-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-28) score averaged 34. After 3 months of VNS, response rates (&gt;= 50% reduction in baseline scores) reached 37% and remission rates (HAMD-28 score &lt;10) 17%. Response rates increased to 53% after 1 year of VNS, and remission rates reached 33%. Response was defined as sustained if no relapse occurred during the first year of VNS after response onset; 44% of patients met these criteria. Median time to response was 9 months. Most frequent side-effects were voice alteration (63% at 3 months of stimulation) and coughing (23 %).Conclusions. VNS therapy was effective in reducing severity of depression; efficacy increased over time. Efficacy ratings were in the same range as those previously reported from a USA study using a similar protocol; at 12 months, reduction of symptom severity was significantly higher in the European sample. This might be explained by a small but significant difference in the baseline HAMD-28 score and the lower number of treatments in the current episode in the European study.</p

Schlaepfer, T. E.

Frick, C.

Zobel, A.

Maier, W.

Heuser, I.

Bajbouj, M.

O'Keane, V.

Corcoran, C.

Adolfsson, R.

Trimble, M.

Rau, H.

Hoff, H. -J.

Padberg, F.

Mueller-Siecheneder, F.

Audenaert, K.

Van den Abbeele, D.

Matthews, K.

Christmas, D.

Hasdemir, M.

Discovery Research Portal

Vagus nerve stimulation for depression: efficacy and safety in a European study

Background: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy is associated with a decrease in seizure frequency in partial-onset seizure patients. Initial trials suggest that it may be an effective treatment, with few side-effects, for intractable depression. Method: An open, uncontrolled European multi-centre study (D03) of VNS therapy was conducted, in addition to stable pharmacotherapy, in 74 patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Treatment remained unchanged for the first 3 months; in the subsequent 9 months, medications and VNS dosing parameters were altered as indicated clinically. Results: The baseline 28-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-28) score averaged 34. After 3 months of VNS, response rates (≥50% reduction in baseline scores) reached 37% and remission rates (HAMD-28 score &lt;10) 17%. Response rates increased to 53% after 1 year of VNS, and remission rates reached 33%. Response was defined as sustained if no relapse occurred during the first year of VNS after response onset; 44% of patients met these criteria. Median time to response was 9 months. Most frequent side-effects were voice alteration (63% at 3 months of stimulation) and coughing (23%). Conclusions: VNS therapy was effective in reducing severity of depression; efficacy increased over time. Efficacy ratings were in the same range as those previously reported from a USA study using a similar protocol; at 12 months, reduction of symptom severity was significantly higher in the European sample. This might be explained by a small but significant difference in the baseline HAMD-28 score and the lower number of treatments in the current episode in the European study.</p

Corcora, C

Adolfsson, Rolf,

Hoff, H J

Stanga, Z

Swepub

Vagus nerve stimulation for depression: Efficacy and safety in a European study

Bern Open Repository and Information System (BORIS)

Background. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy is associated with a decrease in seizure frequency in partial-onset seizure patients. Initial trials suggest that it may be an effective treatment, with few side-effects, for intractable depression.

Method. An open, uncontrolled European multi-centre study (D03) of VNS therapy was conducted, in addition to stable pharmacotherapy, in 74 patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Treatment remained unchanged for the first 3 months; in the subsequent 9 months, medications and VNS dosing parameters were altered as indicated clinically.

Results. The baseline 28-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-28) score averaged 34. After 3 months of VNS, response rates (>= 50% reduction in baseline scores) reached 37% and remission rates (HAMD-28 score <10) 17%. Response rates increased to 53% after 1 year of VNS, and remission rates reached 33%. Response was defined as sustained if no relapse occurred during the first year of VNS after response onset; 44% of patients met these criteria. Median time to response was 9 months. Most frequent side-effects were voice alteration (63% at 3 months of stimulation) and coughing (23 %).

Conclusions. VNS therapy was effective in reducing severity of depression; efficacy increased over time. Efficacy ratings were in the same range as those previously reported from a USA study using a similar protocol; at 12 months, reduction of symptom severity was significantly higher in the European sample. This might be explained by a small but significant difference in the baseline HAMD-28 score and the lower number of treatments in the current episode in the European study

Audenaert, Kurt

Ghent University Academic Bibliography

University of Dundee Online Publications

https://boris.unibe.ch/23900/1/S0033291707001924.pdf

Vagus nerve stimulation for depression: efficacy and safety in a European study

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Swepub

Bern Open Repository and Information System (BORIS)

Ghent University Academic Bibliography

University of Dundee Online Publications