Self-Assessment If you do not live in the United States, please go to our International website for more information.
1. Do you experience depression all the time or do you experience periods of relief (6 months or longer) from your depression?
2. How long have you currently been experiencing continuous depression?
If you have been experiencing continuous depression for more than 2 years, you may be experiencing chronic depression.
3. How many episodes of depression do you believe you have experienced?
If you have experienced 2 or more episodes of depression, you may be experiencing recurrent depression.
4. Are you experiencing side effects from your current antidepressant treatment that interfere with your daily functioning?
5. How many different medications have you ever taken for your depression? Please count all medications that you have ever been prescribed and taken to treat your depression.
4 or more
If you may be experiencing chronic or recurrent depression and answered "4 or more" medications, then you may benefit from a unique long-term approach to your depression treatment plan.
6. Do you feel your current antidepressant treatment plan is working?
No
If you answered "Somewhat" or "No," now may be a good time to discuss your long-term treatment options with your psychiatrist.
Print out and take to discuss with your psychiatrist.
UNITED STATES INDICATION FOR USE:
The VNS Therapy System is indicated for use as an adjunctive therapy in
reducing the frequency of seizures in adults and adolescents over 12 years
of age with partial onset seizures, which are refractory to antiepileptic
medications.
VNS Therapy (or the VNS Therapy System) is indicated for the adjunctive
long-term treatment of chronic or recurrent depression for patients over
the age of 18 who are experiencing a major depressive episode and have not
had an adequate response to four or more adequate antidepressant treatments.
