Treatment Online

VNS Therapy Not Necessarily a Miracle Cure for Depression
> 10/11/2005 1:16:00 PM

Several weeks back the Food and Drug Administration gave its approval forthe use of a controversial new procedure aimed at treatment resistantdepression. In some severe cases, no combination of psychologicalsessions and medication proves successful in dealing withdepression. In these high stress situations, vagus nervestimulation (VNS) therapy, previously shown to be effective in thetreatment of epilepsy, often looks to be a truly miraculousalternative. Many critics however, question whether VNS'sdeveloper, Cyberonics, has performed sufficient research andtesting. These same people have questioned the FDA's decision toapprove the procedure after previously denying Cyberonics. In hiscolumn this Saturday for the NYT Joseph Nocera looked at some of the tribulationsthat have followed VNS's developer over the last few months. Foranyone who may be considering this expensive step, make sure to consultthoroughly with your mental health physician and proceed with caution.

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