Hitting a Nerve, Treating Refractory Depression

A recently completed multi-trial study reported at this year’s APA conference may spell good news for sufferers of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Dr. Stephen Brannan and colleagues treated 59 TRD patients with vagus nerve stimulation. 72% of early responders (those who had responded to treatment within 3 months) maintained response after 12 months, and 61% after 24 months. 79% of late responders (those who responded to treatment after 3 months but before 12 months) maintained response at 24 months. In a second trial of 205 patients, 15% of the cohort showed an early response, and 31% a late response. Response was characterized in both trials as a >50% reduction in HAM-D scores.