Wyniki leczenia lekoopornej depresji stymulacją lewego nerwu błędnego – opis dwóch przypadków

Abstract

Depressive disorders are the fourth most common disease causing the patients' disability worldwide. They are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, not only because of the increased risk of suicide but also because of cardiac complications and stroke. Depression also results in negative economic impacts due to exclusion of treated patients from their daily activities. There is an increased frequency of consultations and hospitalizations in patients with depression. On average, over one third of patients do not respond or poorly respond to conservative treatment. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) may be effective in these patients. In March 2001, VNS was recognized in Europe as a treatment for depression in patients who are refractory or intolerant to conservative treatment, both in cases of major depressive episodes and in bipolar disease. In the United States, the method was recognized by the FDA in July 2005 as an adjunct treatment for long-term chronic refractory depression or for recurrent major depressive episodes refractory to conservative treatment in patients over 18 years of age who did not improve after four or more schemes of antidepressant therapy. The following is a report of two cases of patients with depression treated by left VNS.