What You Need To Know
The Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Neurosurgery are collaborating on a joint initiative in a vagus nerve stimulation program for patients with treatment-resistant unipolar or bipolar depression. The Symmetry VNS device by LivaNova has been approved for these indications. Vagus nerve stimulation involves the surgical implantation of a small pulse generator into the chest wall which is wrapped around the left vagus nerve to stimulate deep brain structures involved in depression.
Eligible patients must be adults who:
- Carry the diagnosis of chronic and/or recurrent unipolar major depressive disorder or bipolar depression
- Are currently in a depressive episode of at least moderate severity and also
- Have failed at least four different treatments for depression (ie. pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, TMS, ECT, or ketamine
To learn more about VNS, please see the following citations:
- Aaronson ST et al. A 5-Year Observational Study of Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression Treated with Vagus Nerve Stimulation or Treatment as Usual: Comparison of Response, Remission, and Suicidality. Am J Psychiatry 174:17, July 2017.
- Hamish McAllister-Williams et al. The effects of vagus nerve stimulation on the course and outcomes of patients with bipolar disorder in a treatment-resistant depressive episode: a 5-year prospective registry. Int J Bipolar Disord 8:13, 2020.
- Aaronson ST et al. Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy Randomized to Different Amounts of Electrical Charge for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Acute and Chronic Effects. Brain Stimulation, 2013.
For referrals or questions, please contact Dr. Zachary Shuler via email at zachary.shuler@hmhn.org or Dr. Shabbar F. Danish at shabbar.danish@hmhn.org.
In addition, you may contact the office for an appointment at 732-643-4407 for Dr. Shuler and at 732-974-0003 for Dr. Danish.