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Epilepsy Treatments for Depression?

By Nancy Schimelpfening, About.com

Updated: August 24, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Question: Epilepsy Treatments for Depression?

Is it true that epilepsy treatments can sometimes help depression?

Answer: Sometimes this type of medication will help when traditional antidepressants have failed. There is growing evidence that there is a link between certain types of depression and seizures. Vagus Nerve Stimulation, originally a seizure treatment, is now approved in the US for treatment resistant depression. It is a device that is implanted under the skin which gives the vagus nerve a periodic electrical stimulus.

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