Vagus nerve stimulation can be used to treat depression
Multiple clinical trials, reviews, and regulatory approvals support the use of vagus nerve stimulation as an effective intervention for treatment-resistant depression.
The retrieved papers consistently report that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is utilized and studied as a treatment for major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression (TRD), supported by clinical trials (like the RECOVER study) showing reductions in depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation compared to sham controls. None of the papers refute this indication.
Hristidis VC, De Leon V, Van Der Vaart AD, Sackeim HA, Rush AJ, Aaronson ST, Bunker MT, Allen RM, Sheline Y, Nahas Z, Dunner DL, Gott BM, Lee YC, Gordon C, Tran Q, Shy O, Quevedo J, Riva-Posse P, Zajecka J, Mickey BJ, Duffy W, Kriedt CL, Oquendo MA, Conway CR. Impact of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Suicidal Ideation in Markedly Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A RECOVER Study Report.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.25m16296
A large clinical trial (RECOVER study) found that active vagus nerve stimulation reduced suicidal ideation and improved outcomes in treatment-resistant depression compared to sham.
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Vannemreddy P, Slavin KV. Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Neuromodulation: Evolution from Bench to Bedside.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint18050094
Reviews and clinical histories note that vagus nerve stimulation has received regulatory approval and is established as a standard treatment for resistant depression.
Berlin Viniegra JP. Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression: An Updated Narrative Review of Current and Emerging Treatments.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.107343
Current clinical updates list vagus nerve stimulation as an established neuromodulatory approach for managing treatment-resistant depression.
Licht C, Landgrebe M, Pieper T. Case Report: Right-sided vagus nerve stimulation for treatment-resistant affective disorders with complex cardiac comorbidity.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1754397
Case series data demonstrate that right-sided vagus nerve stimulation successfully sustains long-term mood stabilization and treats affective disorders.
Henderson NA, Anwar AI, Duet SJ, Rayes Elmalakh S, Shetty V, Shekoohi S, Ahmadzadeh S. Anesthetic Management of Patients for Vagal Nerve Stimulator Placement: A Narrative Review.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s579314
Clinical reviews emphasize that vagus nerve stimulation is an established neuromodulation therapy used for drug-resistant epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression.
Scala M, Magrini E, Leccisotti I, Serretti A, Gonda X, Sankar A, Calati R, Kasper S, Altamura M, Colizzi M, Fabbri C, Fanelli G. Emerging pharmacological and neuromodulation interventions for suicidal ideation and behaviour.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.112888
Observational datasets and reviews associate vagus nerve stimulation with longer-term support and symptom reduction in severe psychiatric presentations.
Förster CY, Shityakov S. A Possible Role for the Vagus Nerve in Physical and Mental Health.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16010121
Literature highlights that vagus nerve stimulation has long been applied to treat resistant depression through neuromodulation.
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