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01-11-2020 | Antidepressant Drugs | Review Article

Antidepressant effect of vagal nerve stimulation in epilepsy patients: a systematic review

Authors: Giovanni Assenza, Mario Tombini, Jacopo Lanzone, Lorenzo Ricci, Vincenzo Di Lazzaro, Sara Casciato, Alessandra Morano, Anna Teresa Giallonardo, Carlo Di Bonaventura, Ettore Beghi, Edoardo Ferlazzo, Sara Gasparini, Loretta Giuliano, Francesco Pisani, Paolo Benna, Francesca Bisulli, Fabrizio A. De Falco, Silvana Franceschetti, Angela La Neve, Stefano Meletti, Barbara Mostacci, Ferdinando Sartucci, Pasquale Striano, Flavio Villani, Umberto Aguglia, Giuliano Avanzini, Vincenzo Belcastro, Amedeo Bianchi, Vittoria Cianci, Angelo Labate, Adriana Magaudda, Roberto Michelucci, Annapia Verri, Gaetano Zaccara, Vincenzo Pizza, Paolo Tinuper, Giancarlo Di Gennaro, on behalf of the Epilepsy Study Group of the Italian Neurological Society

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 11/2020

Abstract

Background

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is an effective palliative therapy in drug-resistant epileptic patients and is also approved as a therapy for treatment-resistant depression. Depression is a frequent comorbidity in epilepsy and it affects the quality of life of patients more than the seizure frequency itself. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze the available literature about the VNS effect on depressive symptoms in epileptic patients.

Material and methods

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar was performed, and results were included up to January 2020. All studies concerning depressive symptom assessment in epileptic patients treated with VNS were included.

Results

Nine studies were included because they fulfilled inclusion criteria. Six out of nine papers reported a positive effect of VNS on depressive symptoms. Eight out of nine studies did not find any correlation between seizure reduction and depressive symptom amelioration, as induced by VNS. Clinical scales for depression, drug regimens, and age of patients were broadly different among the examined studies.

Conclusions

Reviewed studies strongly suggest that VNS ameliorates depressive symptoms in drug-resistant epileptic patients and that the VNS effect on depression is uncorrelated to seizure response. However, more rigorous studies addressing this issue are encouraged.

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Title: Antidepressant effect of vagal nerve stimulation in epilepsy patients: a systematic review
Authors: Giovanni Assenza
Mario Tombini
Jacopo Lanzone
Lorenzo Ricci
Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
Sara Casciato
Alessandra Morano
Anna Teresa Giallonardo
Carlo Di Bonaventura
Ettore Beghi
Edoardo Ferlazzo
Sara Gasparini
Loretta Giuliano
Francesco Pisani
Paolo Benna
Francesca Bisulli
Fabrizio A. De Falco
Silvana Franceschetti
Angela La Neve
Stefano Meletti
Barbara Mostacci
Ferdinando Sartucci
Pasquale Striano
Flavio Villani
Umberto Aguglia
Giuliano Avanzini
Vincenzo Belcastro
Amedeo Bianchi
Vittoria Cianci
Angelo Labate
Adriana Magaudda
Roberto Michelucci
Annapia Verri
Gaetano Zaccara
Vincenzo Pizza
Paolo Tinuper
Giancarlo Di Gennaro
on behalf of the Epilepsy Study Group of the Italian Neurological Society
Publication date: 01-11-2020
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Keywords: Antidepressant Drugs
Affective Disorder
Affective Disorder
Nerve Stimulation
Epilepsy
Antidepressant Drugs
Published in: Neurological Sciences / Issue 11/2020
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04479-2

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Antidepressant effect of vagal nerve stimulation in epilepsy patients: a systematic review

Abstract

Background

Material and methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Material and methods

Results

Conclusions

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