NICE Updates Neurostim Guidance For Depression, Epilepsy

Special arrangements are needed for VNS for treatment-resistant depression and DBS of the anterior thalamus for refractory epilepsy.

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Updated guidance from England's health technology assessment body, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), says that two neurostimulation technologies for treatment-resistant depression and epilepsy should only be used under special conditions, and that further evidence is needed to support their widespread use.

NICE said that evidence on the safety of implanted vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for treatment-resistant depression raises no major safety concerns, but there are frequent, well-recognized side effects, including voice...

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