Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Anxiety
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Because previous research supports the idea that patients suffering from refractory epilepsy often report a reduction in anxiety and an improvement in mood following chronic VNS therapy, it also is plausible that VNS therapy would be an effective treatment in humans for symptoms of anxiety that tend to coexist with depression. Moreover, because pharmacological agents such as anxiolytics (e.g., buspirone, fluoxetine, and propranolol), antidepressants (e.g., amoxapine, clomipramine, and nefazodone), antiepileptics (e.g., lamotrigine, topiramate, and tiagabine), and anticonvulsants (e.g., valproate, carbamazepine, and gabapentin) have proven to be effective in treating anxiety disorders and clinical depression, the use of VNS (an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic agent) for the treatment of anxiety that tends to coexist with depression is currently under investigation (George, Ward, Ninan, Pollack, Mahas, Goodman, et al., 2003). Equally important, since some anticonvulsants and certain antiepileptic medications were originally developed to treat anxiety disorders (e.g., benzodiazepines such as clonazepam, clorazepate, and alprazolam), it is rational to assume that the use of VNS for the treatment of symptoms associated with anxiety would also be effective. The results of Dr. Bell's study provide evidence to support the use of VNS therapy for the treatment of clinical anxiety.
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About the Book
In 1997, Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) therapy (Cyberonics, Houston, Texas) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of epilepsy refractory to antiepileptic medications. In 2005, VNS received FDA approval for treatment-resistant depression refractory to antidepressants, and Cyberonics recently received FDA approval for the clinical study of VNS for rapid cycling bipolar depression. Many researchers continue to investigate the anxiolytic effects of VNS in human and non-human animal models. The author presents a study of VNS effects on anxiety and the capacity of atropine methyl nitrate to attenuate these effects. The results indicate that VNS decreases anxiety in the laboratory animals tested. These findings provide evidence to support the testing and subsequent use of VNS therapy for the treatment of clinical anxiety in humans. Because many therapies that are effective in the treatment of depression effectively treat anxiety, VNS therapy should be effective and approvable for clinical anxiety. This book can serve as a research tool, training mechanism, or surgical guide to the implantation of the vagus nerve stimulating electrode in the laboratory rat. Hopefully, this resource provides information that facilitates FDA approval of VNS for treatment-resistant anxiety, a chronic, devastating and often debilitating illness.
About the Author
Taunjah P. Bell earned a Doctorate of Philosophy from Southern Illinois University where she specialized in Behavioral Neuroscience. Dr. Bell is now a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Jackson State University (JSU) where she teaches Physiological Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Learning, and Statistics. She also serves as Research Advisor and leads the Anxiety Study Group in JSU’s Psychology Department. The author developed this group to design research and involve students in the study of physiological factors associated with psychological indicators of anxiety, fear and related emotions. Dr. Bell’s research interests include investigating VNS effects on anxiety and depression; neurobiological mechanisms underlying emotional control and responses; impairments in neural mechanisms leading to exaggerated fear and anxiety as well as novel treatments for clinical anxiety and depression. In her spare time, the author who is from Miami, Florida, enjoys spending time with Everett, Kate, Bo and Jo.