Vagus nerve stimulators are one of the newest developments of depression management. Although this treatment has been used since the late 80s for the management of epilepsy, it started to be used for depression and bipolar disorder in the last five years or so. So far, it has proven to be more effective and less harmful than any other form of treatment, with the exception of psychotherapy, of course. Also, VNS, the treatment that uses these stimulators, was FDA-approved in early 2005, making it a more viable choice for treatment-resistant depression sufferers over the age of 18.
What Do Vagus Nerve Stimulators Do?
Vagus nerve stimulators work by sending electrical signals to the vagus nerve, as a type of shock treatment. Two devices are surgically implanted under the skin-one in the left side of the chest and one in the back of the neck, and electrical signals generated in one are sent to the other. This alters the functioning of the vagus nerve which plays a role in controlling mood.
Although it involves a surgical procedure, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is not a dangerous or painful treatment. The vagus nerve stimulators are rarely felt and the treatment can be continued for up to 10 years, which is longer than almost any other medication or shock therapy. You can probably start to see why this is such an effective treatment.
Although VNS is used as a last resort in many cases, it is an effective one. It is important to talk to a doctor or some other professional about your situation, and they will guide you through an effective treatment plan. Remember, because we have a lot of different aspects of who we are, our treatments have a lot of aspects to cover and may require several different parts, such as VNS and psychotherapy combined with a medication or two.
VNS stands for vagus nerve stimulation, and it is a type of shock therapy that was designed to be a treatment for epilepsy. While it became an effective treatment for controlling seizures in epileptic people, it also became a treatment for depression as well. It is now used not only for depression and epilepsy, but for bipolar disorders as well. Whats more, it was FDA-approved in early 2005.
VNS works by sending electrical signals to the vagus nerve, which plays a role in controlling mood. The signals are sent intermittently, and are hardly ever felt. They are sent continuously for up to five years, making this one of the longest lasting treatments.
With the traditional shock therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, results typically last for about one year, and then supplemental treatments are needed in order to control symptoms. The repeated grand mal seizures that occur are definitely not good for you, no matter how you look at it, and you cannot live your entire life in a fog of medications. VNS is an effective treatment because it eliminates many of these problems.
The Only Downside to VNS
The only downside to VNS is that it requires a small surgical procedure. However, it is a short and uncomplicated procedure, usually with a fast recovery. After the surgery sight heals, you will almost forget that you ever had it (except you will feel a whole lot better).
Over 4 million people in the United States have treatment resistant depression. Because depression is such a debilitating disorder and causes a majority of the suicides that are committed, the need for a new treatment is enormous. A treatment is emerging, called vagus nerve stimulation, that may be the answer that people are looking for.
Treating Treatment Resistant Depression
When people are suffering from treatment resistant depression, it usually means that they are resistant to all the antidepressant medications that they have been using. When this happens, they are only left with a couple of options. They can change and/or add on medications to a treatment regimen, or use shock therapy.
There are also two forms of shock therapy to choose between, electroconvulsive therapy and vagus nerve stimulation therapy. They both use electricity, but they are very different treatments. While electroconvulsive therapy may be better for psychotic depression, vagus nerve stimulation may be better for treatment resistant depression. One thing to note is that VNS is an FDA-approved treatment of severe depression.
Regardless of which treatment you think would be best for you, it is best to talk to an expert to evaluate your situation. They have a lot of resources, a lot of experience, and they can look at your situation from an outside perspective. All this put together will give you a big advantage.
VNS therapy, otherwise known as vagus nerve stimulation therapy, is one of the newest and most effective treatments for severe depression. It is a combination of the ideas of the past with the knowledge of the present, and designed with the future in mind. It is a new treatment, but it is being used more and more every day as people learn of its benefits. VNS has also been FDA-approved, making it the first FDA-approved method of treating treatment-resistant depression sufferers.
How Does VNS Therapy Work?
VNS therapy works in a similar way that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as electric shock therapy, works. It is a form of electric shock therapy that alters the chemistry of the brain. The difference is in how the shock is delivered, the length of the treatment and the results, and the side effects.
In VNS, the electric shock is delivered directly to and only to the vagus nerve instead of the entire body. And unlike ECT, VNS therapy causes little or no pain or discomfort. VNS therapy also lasts a lot longer than ECT; it lasts ten years as opposed to about one with ECT.
VNS therapy does not cause many side effects, if any at all. After the discomfort of the surgery to initiate the treatment, the patients life is virtually uninterrupted. With ECT and other medication treatments, there are always a number of undesirable side effects that get in the way of the comfort of your daily life. An effective treatment should allow you all the comforts you desire.
Major depression treatments tend to be very traumatic to the body, but it does not have to be that way. In the past the treatment for moderate depression was medication, and the common treatment for severe depression and manic depression was electric shock treatment, which is now referred to as electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT. This is a type of treatment that everyone fears of getting.
ECT is a treatment that involves using electricity to shock the body through electrodes on the head. This treatment needs to be repeated several times a week for three or four weeks. That is a lot of electricity in your head!
What the electricity does is send the body into a grand mal seizure and sends every muscle in your body into convulsions. This process alters the chemistry of the brain and eliminates depression, but it also causes adverse side effects such as fatigue and memory loss. The other problem is that is eliminates a lot of other things as well, and it is not a permanent treatment.
More Effective Major Depression Treatments
One of the most effective major depression treatments that I have ever heard about is called VNS, or vagus nerve stimulation. Although it is also a shock treatment, it does not harm the body and does not cause pain or discomfort like other major depression treatments. Even better, VNS has been FDA-approved. Be sure to talk to a professional to explore your options.