Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for Depression in Tampa, FL

Though there are many effective treatments for alleviating depression symptoms, not everyone gets better with traditional care. Stedman Clinical Trials in Tampa, Florida, is looking for people with depression to participate in a research study on the use of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for depression.

What is vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)?

Your vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that runs from your brain stem to your colon. It’s a sensory and motor nerve.

VNS is an implanted device that stimulates the vagus nerve with electrical impulses. When activated, the device sends an electrical signal to your vagus nerve that travels to various areas of your brain.

The implanted VNS device is currently FDA-approved for the treatment of epilepsy (seizures) and treatment-resistant depression.

More recently, noninvasive VNS devices are being used in Europe to treat depression, chronic pain, and epilepsy. In the United States, these devices are only FDA-approved for the treatment of headaches.

When is VNS for depression recommended?

Depression is a serious mental health condition that interferes with how you feel, think, and behave. Though symptoms vary, people with depression may experience extreme feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and pessimism.

For most people, psychotherapy and antidepressant medication alleviates symptoms of their depression. However, not everyone responds positively to traditional treatments for depression.

If traditional treatments fail to improve your depression symptoms, then you may have treatment-resistant depression.

Currently, VNS is only FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression. It’s also only recommended when used in conjunction with antidepressant medication and therapy.

How does vagus nerve stimulation for depression work?

Vagus nerve stimulation or VNS for depression is a type of neuromodulation therapy like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Neuromodulation therapy works by changing the neural circuitry in the brain to improve mood.

VNS is a “bottoms-up” approach to the treatment of depression. It works by stimulating the neural circuitry in the brainstem to reduce symptoms of depression.

How can a clinical trial of VNS for depression help?

Stedman Clinical Trials seeks participants for a VNS for depression clinical trial to confirm or rule out the benefits of the therapy for those struggling to gain control over their depression symptoms.

Because clinical trials follow very strict guidelines to get the most accurate results, you must meet specific criteria to be able to participate in the VNS for depression study. Your eligibility may depend on your diagnosis, medical history, medication and therapy history, and age.

To learn more about vagus nerve stimulation or VNS for depression and how you can participate in a clinical trial, contact Stedman Clinical Trials by phone or online today. Or, apply for the study using the online eligibility form.

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