Can a nerve stimulator beat tough depression? new study tracks Long-Term results

NCT ID NCT03320304

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study follows 500 people with treatment-resistant depression who receive Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy, an implanted device that sends electrical pulses to the vagus nerve. Researchers will track how many patients see a 50% or greater improvement in depression scores over 12 months. The goal is to see how well VNS works in everyday medical practice, not just in controlled trials.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • AKH Allgemeines Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien

    RECRUITING

    Vienna, 1090, Austria

    Contact

  • Academic Psychiatry Wolfson Research Centre

    RECRUITING

    Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    Contact

  • Glenfield hospital

    RECRUITING

    Leicester, LE3 9EJ, United Kingdom

    Contact

  • KU Leuven

    RECRUITING

    Leuven, Belgium

    Contact

  • King's College London

    RECRUITING

    London, United Kingdom

    Contact

  • Klinikum Wilhelmshaven

    ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

    Wilhelmshaven, Germany

  • LVR-Hospital Essen

    RECRUITING

    Essen, 45147, Germany

    Contact

  • Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

    WITHDRAWN

    Hanover, Germany

  • Mendip HTT / St Andrew's Ward

    ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

    Wells, BA5 1TH, United Kingdom

  • Sozialstiftung Bamberg - Klinikum am Bruderwald

    WITHDRAWN

    Bamberg, Germany

  • University Hospital Münster

    RECRUITING

    Münster, Germany

    Contact

  • Universitätsklinik Leipzig

    RECRUITING

    Leipzig, 04103, Germany

    Contact

  • Universitätsklinikum Bonn

    RECRUITING

    Bonn, Germany

    Contact

  • Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

    RECRUITING

    Frankfurt, Germany

    Contact

  • Universitätsklinikum Freiburg

    COMPLETED

    Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

  • Universitätsklinikum Jena

    COMPLETED

    Jena, Germany

  • Universitätsklinikum Köln

    RECRUITING

    Cologne, Germany

    Contact

  • Universitätsmedizin Göttingen

    WITHDRAWN

    Göttingen, Germany

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy device

What this could lead to

If successful, this could confirm VNS Therapy as a reliable long-term option for people with treatment-resistant depression.

What could go wrong

This is an observational study, not a controlled trial, so results may be less conclusive. The device requires surgery and carries risks like infection or nerve damage.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.