Could Vagus Nerve Stimulation Help Manage Major Depressive Disorder?

Major depressive disorder has been making headlines recently, but many of us don’t actually know much about the condition. And that’s not surprising. According to the American Psychological Association, 84 percent of Americans believe there’s still a stigma surrounding mental illness.

One thing that helps shrink that stigma is having more open conversations, and politician Tom Kean, Jr. recently started one. According to the New York Times, the New Jersey representative was absent from Congress beginning in March without explanation until Tuesday, June 30, when he revealed that he was hospitalized for treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). While Kean didn’t specify what treatment he received, one therapy that’s making waves in new research is vagus nerve stimulation. Here we break down everything you need to know about MDD, a condition that’s more common in women than men, and how researchers are exploring new treatment options that can help.

What is major depressive disorder?

“Major depressive disorder is a medical illness that affects mood, thinking, sleep, energy,

appetite, motivation and the ability to experience pleasure,” says Dave Rabin, MD, PhD, author of A Simple Guide To Being Alive. “To meet diagnostic criteria, symptoms must persist for at least two weeks, represent a change from a person’s usual functioning and significantly interfere with daily life. MDD is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.”

If you don’t live with major depressive disorder, you might think it’s simply another word for sadness, but the two are very different. “Sadness is a normal human emotion that usually has a clear cause and improves with time or support,” adds Dr. Rabin. “Major depressive disorder is different because it persists beyond expected emotional recovery, often without improving when circumstances change. It affects the entire nervous system including sleep, appetite, concentration, energy and physical health—not just mood.”

During a major depressive episode (a period of at least two weeks), the Cleveland Clinic reports that you may experience symptoms such as:

• A depressed mood
• Loss of interest in activities
• Fatigue
• Appetite changes
• Sleep problems

Important: If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is open 24/7.

How vagus nerve stimulation may help with depression

In many cases, depression can be treated with medication, lifestyle changes and/or psychotherapy, explains Dr. Rabin. That said, researchers are continually exploring new ways to help manage the mood disorder, and one promising treatment is what’s known as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

“Vagus nerve stimulation is an intervention that involves sending low-level electrical impulses to the vagus nerve,” explains Amy Fitzpatrick, MD, chief medical officer at Bedrock Recovery and assistant professor of medicine at Boston University. “The vagus nerve is one of the major nerves that allows for communication between the brain and other parts of the body. During surgical VNS, a very small device is implanted just below the surface of the skin on the upper part of the chest. The device is connected by a thin, insulated wire directly into the left vagus nerve located within the neck.”

Once implanted, the device regularly sends tiny signals to the vagus nerve to stimulate it. Why is that important? The vagus nerve plays a role in many bodily functions, including regulating your heart rate, breathing, digestion and the body’s release of stress hormones like cortisol.

What new research shows

In a new study published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, researchers followed 214 participants with major depressive disorder that had not responded to multiple antidepressant treatments, such as medications and psychotherapy. After one year of treatment with a surgically implanted vagus nerve stimulation device, 43.6 percent of participants experienced meaningful improvements in their depression on a clinician-rated depression scale, while 61.3 percent experienced meaningful improvements on a self-reported depression scale. Among those participants who experienced improvements in their depression symptoms, about 80 percent maintained those improvements for another year.

So why might vagus nerve stimulation work when other treatments have fallen short? Dr. Rabin says it comes down to how the therapy works in the brain and body. “Unlike antidepressants, which primarily target specific neurotransmitters and decrease meaningfulness around negative (and positive) emotional states, VNS activates a natural broad brain-body communication network that already exists in the body,” explains Dr. Rabin. “Signals carried through the vagus nerve reach the brainstem and influence regions involved in mood regulation, increasing perception of safety and decreasing perception of threat.”

Surgical vs. non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation

While the new research focused on surgically implanted vagus nerve stimulation, there are also noninvasive vagus nerve stimulator devices. These small devices, which often cost $200 or more, claim to activate the vagus nerve without surgery. (Check out a Woman’s World editor’s personal review of two popular vagus nerve stimulation devices.) But do they actually work?

Dr. Rabin says yes, but more research is still needed. “There is significant evidence that noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation can influence autonomic function, reduce physiological stress and improve symptoms in selected neurological and psychiatric conditions,” he explains. “For depression, early clinical trials are encouraging, but the evidence remains considerably smaller than for implanted VNS.”

“Implanting a vagus nerve stimulation device is an option for individuals experiencing severe and chronic depression that has been unresponsive to other evidence-based treatments,” adds Bonnie Lambert, PMHNP-BC, LPC, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and licensed professional counselor at Crestview Recovery Center. “A non-invasive device could be a good option for individuals seeking to try a lower-risk approach, or those who are not able to have surgery due to a medical condition.”

How to get started with vagus nerve stimulation

If you’ve been living with major depressive disorder and are interested in giving vagus nerve stimulation a try, Dr. Rabin shares a three-step guide:

Try an OTC vagus nerve stimulator

While surgically implanting a vagus nerve stimulator has proven effective for some people with treatment-resistant depression, Dr. Rabin says it is not considered a first-line treatment.

He adds that while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved surgically implanted vagus nerve stimulation for depression that is treatment resistant, insurance approval can be inconsistent. “Without insurance, total costs, including surgery, the implanted device and follow-up care, can exceed $30,000 to $50,000,” says Dr. Rabin.

Dr. Rabin recommends first trying an over-the-counter, noninvasive vagus nerve stimulator for 12 weeks to see if your symptoms improve. He says that if it helps, the OTC option may be all you need.

Get evaluated by a professional

If an over-the-counter, noninvasive vagus nerve stimulator isn’t helping to curb your depression symptoms, Dr. Rabin says to schedule an evaluation with a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in treating depression that is treatment resistant. He or she can confirm your diagnosis and review other possible treatment options, such as lifestyle interventions, medications or even ketamine therapy, to make sure they have been used adequately.

Do your homework on surgical VNS

If you’ve noticed some improvement with an over-the-counter vagus nerve stimulator but your symptoms are still affecting your daily life, or if other treatment options haven’t provided enough relief, get a referral to a neurosurgeon or interventional psychiatrist to discuss whether surgical vagus nerve stimulation is a good fit for you, says Dr. Rabin. The provider can go over the risks, benefits, insurance coverage and recovery to help you make an informed decision, he adds.

The bottom line on major depressive disorder

Living with depression can make you feel like you’ve lost yourself, but with emerging treatments like vagus nerve stimulation offering new hope, there are more options for healing than ever before. Talk to your doctor about whether VNS might be right for you.

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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM.