BACKGROUND: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a serious chronic condition disabling patients functionally and cognitively. Chronic vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is recognized for the management of TRD, but few studies have examined its long-term effects on cognitive dysfunction in unipolar and bipolar resistant depression. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the course of cognitive functions and clinical symptoms in a cohort of patients treated with VNS for TRD. METHODS: In 14 TRD patients with VNS, standardized clinical and neuropsychological measures covering memory, attention/executive functions, and psychomotor speed were analyzed prestimulation and up to 2 years poststimulation. RESULTS: Vagus nerve stimulation patients significantly improved on cognitive and clinical measures. Learning and memory improved rapidly after 1 month of stimulation, and other cognitive functions improved gradually over time. Cognitive improvements were sustained up to 2 years of treatment. At 1 month, improvement in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale scores was not correlated with changes in any of the cognitive scores, whereas at 12 months, the change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score was significantly correlated with several measures (Stroop interference, verbal fluency, and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure delayed recall). CONCLUSIONS: In recent years, a growing interest in cognitive dysfunction in depression has emerged. Our results suggest that chronic VNS produces sustained clinical and cognitive improvements in TRD patients, with some mental functions improving as soon as 1 month after the initiation of the VNS therapy. Vagus nerve stimulation seems a very promising adjunctive therapy for TRD patients with cognitive impairment.
BACKGROUND: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a serious chronic condition disabling patients functionally and cognitively. Chronic vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is recognized for the management of TRD, but few studies have examined its long-term effects on cognitive dysfunction in unipolar and bipolar resistant depression. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the course of cognitive functions and clinical symptoms in a cohort of patients treated with VNS for TRD. METHODS: In 14 TRD patients with VNS, standardized clinical and neuropsychological measures covering memory, attention/executive functions, and psychomotor speed were analyzed prestimulation and up to 2 years poststimulation. RESULTS: Vagus nerve stimulation patients significantly improved on cognitive and clinical measures. Learning and memory improved rapidly after 1 month of stimulation, and other cognitive functions improved gradually over time. Cognitive improvements were sustained up to 2 years of treatment. At 1 month, improvement in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale scores was not correlated with changes in any of the cognitive scores, whereas at 12 months, the change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score was significantly correlated with several measures (Stroop interference, verbal fluency, and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure delayed recall). CONCLUSIONS: In recent years, a growing interest in cognitive dysfunction in depression has emerged. Our results suggest that chronic VNS produces sustained clinical and cognitive improvements in TRD patients, with some mental functions improving as soon as 1 month after the initiation of the VNS therapy. Vagus nerve stimulation seems a very promising adjunctive therapy for TRD patients with cognitive impairment.
Authors: Morgan B Lee; Daniel R Kramer; Terrance Peng; Michael F Barbaro; Charles Y Liu; Spencer Kellis; Brian Lee Journal: J Clin Neurosci Date: 2019-07-30 Impact factor: 1.961
Authors: Adam D Farmer; Adam Strzelczyk; Alessandra Finisguerra; Alexander V Gourine; Alireza Gharabaghi; Alkomiet Hasan; Andreas M Burger; Andrés M Jaramillo; Ann Mertens; Arshad Majid; Bart Verkuil; Bashar W Badran; Carlos Ventura-Bort; Charly Gaul; Christian Beste; Christopher M Warren; Daniel S Quintana; Dorothea Hämmerer; Elena Freri; Eleni Frangos; Eleonora Tobaldini; Eugenijus Kaniusas; Felix Rosenow; Fioravante Capone; Fivos Panetsos; Gareth L Ackland; Gaurav Kaithwas; Georgia H O'Leary; Hannah Genheimer; Heidi I L Jacobs; Ilse Van Diest; Jean Schoenen; Jessica Redgrave; Jiliang Fang; Jim Deuchars; Jozsef C Széles; Julian F Thayer; Kaushik More; Kristl Vonck; Laura Steenbergen; Lauro C Vianna; Lisa M McTeague; Mareike Ludwig; Maria G Veldhuizen; Marijke De Couck; Marina Casazza; Marius Keute; Marom Bikson; Marta Andreatta; Martina D'Agostini; Mathias Weymar; Matthew Betts; Matthias Prigge; Michael Kaess; Michael Roden; Michelle Thai; Nathaniel M Schuster; Nicola Montano; Niels Hansen; Nils B Kroemer; Peijing Rong; Rico Fischer; Robert H Howland; Roberta Sclocco; Roberta Sellaro; Ronald G Garcia; Sebastian Bauer; Sofiya Gancheva; Stavros Stavrakis; Stefan Kampusch; Susan A Deuchars; Sven Wehner; Sylvain Laborde; Taras Usichenko; Thomas Polak; Tino Zaehle; Uirassu Borges; Vanessa Teckentrup; Vera K Jandackova; Vitaly Napadow; Julian Koenig Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2021-03-23 Impact factor: 3.169