The vagus nerve is part of the autonomic nervous system and is linked to the brain's hypothalamus and amygdala areas, which have shown an association with mood disorders. With VNS, small electrodes are attached to the vagus nerve, which connects to an electronic device surgically placed in the left chest wall. Not enough studies have yet been done to distinctly understand why it relieves mood disorder symptoms, but it looks promising.

University of Toledo

Treatments that are either no longer used or are used in a different way based on research. (ECT, TMS, rTMS, VNS)

Alternative Treatments for Mood Disorders

Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2020). Abnormal Psychology (8th ed.). McGraw Hill.

Abnormal Psychology

A non-invasive method of brain stimulation that relies on electromagnetic induction using an insulated coil placed over the scalp which creates a magnetic field to induce a small electric current in a specific part of the brain.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation 

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive treatment that repeatedly sends a high-intensity magnetic pulse into a particular brain area. In electroconvulsive therapy, the patient is anesthetized to control seizures and muscle relaxers to control the violent jerking, but during rTMS, there is no need for anesthesia, avoiding many complications. The treatment is showing promising results in relieving symptoms of mood disorders, specifically depression, and is preferred when other treatments have failed. 

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for Mood Disorders

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a biologically based treatment for severe mental disorders, particularly severe depression that has not responded to drug therapy. The procedure involves using an electrical current to induce seizures, which helps alleviate symptoms. While the exact mechanism of action is not understood, ECT has a high success rate, with about 85% of patients showing improvement. However, due to significant side effects like memory loss associated with repeated treatments, it is typically implemented as a last resort.

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