
Implantable Vagus Nerve Stimulator Delivers Lasting Relief for Severe Depression in US Trial
The US RECOVER trial of 493 patients with severe, treatment-resistant depression found that an implanted vagus nerve stimulator produced lasting benefits: 69% had meaningful improvement at 12 months, and over 80% of those continued to improve or stay improved at 24 months; among strong early responders (50%+ symptom reduction), 92% remained improved at two years, and about one-third of initial non-responders improved by 24 months. While not a rapid fix and not universal in effect, the durable benefits (funded by device maker LivaNova) could influence coverage decisions for VNS as a treatment option.







