title: Weight loss during chronic, cervical vagus nerve stimulation in depressed patients with obesity: an observation.
abstract: Fourteen patients were treated over 2 years with cervical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for adjunctive therapy of severe, treatment-resistant depression. Here, we report the serendipitous observation that this treatment was associated with highly significant, gradual weight loss despite the patients' report of not dieting or exercising. The weight loss was proportional to the initial BMI, that is, the more severe the obesity, the greater the weight loss. Weight loss did not correlate with changes in mood symptoms. The vagus nerve carries visceral information to and from the brain; modulation of its activity may alter eating behavior. Chronic cervical VNS may merit controlled study for the treatment of severe obesity.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit (11P), Psychiatry Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA. jvpardo@umn.edu
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kuskowski
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Surerus-Johnson
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Rittberg
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Adson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015431:Weight Loss