I lost all interest in hobbies. Davis took part in the initial pilot study of vagus nerve stimulation, or VNS, for depression. The encouraging results led to the current wider study. It delivers mild electrical pulses at regular intervals to stimulate nerve fibers in the brain. Doctors can program the device with an external wand.
Patients feel no pain from the electrical pulse.
Some experience mild side effects such as hoarseness, coughing or shortness of breath. Each participant will take part in a 12-week study. Half the implant patients will receive active stimulation, half will not. If it works, VNS could be a breakthrough for patients who've run out of ways to beat the blues. The nerve stimulation for depression study is under way at 20 sites in the United States and will involve more than 200 patients.