Effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) as a Treatment of Persistent Depression With Comorbid Personality Disorders (Impulse-VNS

In this monocentre two-armed double blind randomised placebo-controlled study - in which the control group obtains the VNS therapy within a defined space of time after 12 weeks - the impact of vagus nerve stimulation on depressive symptomatology of patients with therapy-resistant depressive personality disorders shall be analysed. Particularly in comorbid disorders, medicamentous treatment shows exceedingly bad response rates. Against the background of hitherto insufficient treatment strategies for chronic or persistent depression with comorbidities, the proceeding of a study on the effects of VNS on depressive patients with comorbid disorders is absolutely essential.