Vagus Nerve Stimulation Modulates Inflammation in Treatment-Resistant Depression Patients: A Pilot Study.

Vagal neurostimulation (VNS) is used for the treatment of epilepsy and major medical-refractory depression. VNS has neuropsychiatric functions and systemic anti-inflammatory activity. The objective of this study is to measure the clinical efficacy and impact of VNS modulation in depressive patients. Six patients with refractory depression were enrolled. Depression symptoms were assessed with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating, and anxiety symptoms with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Plasmas were harvested prospectively before the implantation of VNS (baseline) and up to 4 years or more after continuous therapy. Forty soluble molecules were measured in the plasma by multiplex assays. Following VNS, the reduction in the mean depression severity score was 59.9% and the response rate was 87%. Anxiety levels were also greatly reduced. IL-7, CXCL8, CCL2, CCL13, CCL17, CCL22, Flt-1 and VEGFc levels were significantly lowered, whereas bFGF levels were increased (p values ranging from 0.004 to 0.02). This exploratory study is the first to focus on the long-term efficacy of VNS and its consequences on inflammatory biomarkers. VNS may modulate inflammation via an increase in blood-brain barrier integrity and a reduction in inflammatory cell recruitment. This opens the door to new pathways involved in the treatment of refractory depression.

Electrocardiogram Corrected Q-T Interval Predicts Response to Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Depression.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have revealed a possible link between heart rate variability (HRV) and major depressive disorder (MDD), with decreased HRV in MDD compared with healthy subjects. Corrected Q-T interval (QTc) has been suggested to represent an indirect estimate of HRV, as QTc length is inversely correlated to parasympathetic activity in healthy subjects. This retrospective study assessed the ability of QTc length in predicting response to vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) treatment in refractory depression. METHODS: We measured QTc length in 19 patients suffering from refractory depression, selected to be implanted with VNS. Correlations were calculated between baseline QTc (preimplantation) and long-term mood response. RESULTS: Nineteen patients selected for VNS surgery were included in the study. Baseline 28-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were 28.5 ± 6.8 and decreased to 15.1 ± 9.5 at 12 months and 12.4 ± 10.4 at 24 months post-VNS. Among the 19 patients, 53% (10) were responders and 26% (5) were in remission at 12 months. Pretreatment QTc averaged 425.5 ± 22.0. Patients with longer baseline QTc displayed larger improvement, with a significant correlation between mood and QTc values after 12 months (r(18) = -0.526, P = 0.02) and also after 24 months of VNS therapy (r(17) = -0.573, P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: The presented analysis showed that increased QTc in patients with MDD might be used as a baseline biomarker for depressive episodes that might respond preferentially to VNS. The link between cardiovagal activity in depression and response to VNS treatment requires further investigation in larger cohorts and randomized controlled trials.

Safety and Efficacy of Accelerated Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Protocol in Elderly Depressed Unipolar and Bipolar Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent condition in older adults. Although antidepressant drugs are commonly prescribed, efficacy is variable, and older patients are more prone to side effects. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an alternative therapy used increasingly in the treatment of MDD. Even though recent studies have shown efficacy of rTMS in elderly depressed patients, the safety and efficacy of accelerated rTMS has not been studied in this population. METHODS: Data were retrospectively analyzed for adults with treatment-resistant depression (N = 73, n = 19 ≥60years, n = 54 <60 years) who underwent an accelerated protocol of 30 sessions (2 sessions per day) of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex high-frequency (20 Hz) rTMS. RESULTS: There were statistically significant improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms from baseline to post-treatment in both age groups, but those 60years and older showed statistically greater improvement in depression and anxiety symptom scores (p = 0.01) than those less than 60. There were significantly more responders (p = 0.001) and remitters (p = 0.023) in the older group. The age groups did not differ significantly in clinical and demographic characteristics or severity of current depressive episode, although baseline anxiety was less severe in those 60years and older. Unipolar and bipolar patients had a similar clinical response, and treatment appeared to be well tolerated by all patients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that accelerated rTMS protocol is a safe and effective treatment for unipolar and bipolar depressed subjects, including older adults.

Long-term Sustained Cognitive Benefits of Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Refractory Depression.

BACKGROUND: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a serious chronic condition disabling patients functionally and cognitively. Chronic vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is recognized for the management of TRD, but few studies have examined its long-term effects on cognitive dysfunction in unipolar and bipolar resistant depression. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the course of cognitive functions and clinical symptoms in a cohort of patients treated with VNS for TRD. METHODS: In 14 TRD patients with VNS, standardized clinical and neuropsychological measures covering memory, attention/executive functions, and psychomotor speed were analyzed prestimulation and up to 2 years poststimulation. RESULTS: Vagus nerve stimulation patients significantly improved on cognitive and clinical measures. Learning and memory improved rapidly after 1 month of stimulation, and other cognitive functions improved gradually over time. Cognitive improvements were sustained up to 2 years of treatment. At 1 month, improvement in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale scores was not correlated with changes in any of the cognitive scores, whereas at 12 months, the change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score was significantly correlated with several measures (Stroop interference, verbal fluency, and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure delayed recall). CONCLUSIONS: In recent years, a growing interest in cognitive dysfunction in depression has emerged. Our results suggest that chronic VNS produces sustained clinical and cognitive improvements in TRD patients, with some mental functions improving as soon as 1 month after the initiation of the VNS therapy. Vagus nerve stimulation seems a very promising adjunctive therapy for TRD patients with cognitive impairment.

A 6-Year Follow-up Study of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Effect on Quality of Life in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) carries a major burden on those affected by this disease and significantly impacts their quality of life (QOL). Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has showed promising results on symptoms, but its impact on QOL remains underresearched. This study aims to evaluate the long-term effects of VNS on both QOL and clinical symptoms for TRD patients, through a naturalistic 6-year follow-up. METHOD: Outpatients with confirmed TRD were enrolled to receive VNS. None of the patients enrolled left the study or was lost at follow-up. Patients were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 months for a total of 10 assessments using the 36 item Short Form questionnaire, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. RESULTS: Ten patients were enrolled with a mean age of 50 years. This study shows a clinically and statistically significant improvement of the mental QOL (P = 0.012), physical QOL (P < 0.002), depressive symptoms (P < 0.001), and anxiety symptoms (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This long-term naturalistic study is the first to demonstrate that the therapeutic effect of VNS on TRD goes beyond clinical symptoms to improve the daily QOL of those affected.

Depressive Symptoms Negatively Impact Montreal Cognitive Assessment Performance: A Memory Clinic Experience.

OBJECTIVE: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a general cognitive screening tool that has shown sensitivity in detecting mild levels of cognitive impairment in various clinical populations. Although mood dysfunction is common in referrals to memory clinics, the influence of mood on the MoCA has to date been largely unexplored. METHOD: In this study, we examined the impact of mood dysfunction on the MoCA using a memory clinic sample of individuals with depressive symptoms who did not meet criteria for a neurodegenerative disease. RESULTS: Half of the group with depressive symptoms scored below the MoCA-suggested cutoff for cognitive impairment. As a group, they scored below healthy controls, but above individuals with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. A MoCA subtask analysis revealed a pattern of executive/attentional dysfunction in those with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This observed negative impact of depressive symptomatology on the MoCA has interpretative implications for its utility as a cognitive screening tool in a memory clinic setting.

Elevated allostatic load is associated with poorer response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in treatment-resistant depression.

This cohort study investigated whether allostatic load (AL) is associated with treatment response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Pre-treatment blood samples measured AL across multiple systems. Pre- and post-treatment mood changes were assessed using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Associations between AL and treatment outcomes were explored. Higher pre-treatment AL was significantly associated with poorer post-treatment response status but was not significantly associated with smaller reduction in MADRS score after 4 weeks of treatment. Identifying biomarker profiles informed by the AL model could enhance treatment decisions in TRD, reducing risks associated with prolonged, ineffective rTMS trials and emphasizing the need for reliable predictive biomarkers.

Evaluating real-world effectiveness of accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression in a tertiary referral center based in Quebec, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in a tertiary referral center in Quebec, Canada, focusing on a real-world clinical setting. METHODS: We reviewed the data of 247 TRD patients treated between January 2012 and May 2022 who received accelerated TMS. Participants were adults diagnosed with unipolar or bipolar depression, resistant to at least two antidepressant trials, and assessed using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). RESULTS: Significant symptom reduction was found in the completer sample (N = 147), with 46.3 % of patients meeting post-treatment response criteria and 36.1 % achieving remission. Baseline severity of depression, age, and the number of antidepressant trials were key predictors of treatment outcomes. Patients who did not complete treatment had generally more severe depressive and anxious symptoms and greater treatment resistance. No significant differences in response rates were observed across different TMS coils. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated the effectiveness and tolerability of accelerated TMS for TRD in a real-world clinical setting.

Improving Palliative Care and Medical Assistance in Dying Practice in Canada: How Patients-Partners Could Contribute to Continuing Medical Education.

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is still considered an evolving practice in Canada. Practitioners are facing the challenge of staying up to date and hence need efficient continuing medical education (CME). A patient-partner has been recently invited as a keynote speaker to CME activities in Canada to share her perspectives and views about patient engagement in palliative care and MAiD practice, calling for compassion. To our knowledge, few data exist on patient-partners' contribution to CME on these topics. Based on that experience, we discuss different issues on patient engagement's contribution in such CME events and call for further research.

Listening to Cancer Patients' Narratives During Residency: A Pilot Study on a Communication Skills' Workshop Involving Patients-Partners.

The field of cancer care still lacks best practices in communication. Few postgraduate training programs offer formal training to develop such skills. The patient partnership has been used in medical education to increase the sensitivity of the subjective experiences of patients. In our Canadian center, residents and patient-partners participated in an educational workshop on communication focusing on patient's narrative. The aim of this pilot qualitative study was to explore the experiences of participants in the workshop. Using theoretical sampling, we recruited 6 residents and 6 patient-partners. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and transcribed. A thematic analysis was performed. From analysis, 4 themes emerged: (1) lack of communication skills training; (2) barriers to effective communication in cancer care; (3) the empathy of patient-partners towards the communication challenges faced by residents; and (4) the participants' reactions to the workshop. Based on our findings, our communication skills workshop centered on narrative medicine and involving patient-partners appears feasible. Future research could study its pedagogical value and the optimal learning environment required.

Intravenous ketamine for treatment-resistant depression patients who have failed to respond to transcranial magnetic stimulation: A case series.

BACKGROUND: For individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has become a well-established approach. In the past decade, intravenous (IV) racemic ketamine has also emerged as a potential treatment for TRD. Currently, little data is available on the clinical effects of IV racemic ketamine in TRD patients who experienced TMS-failure. METHODS: Twenty-one (21) TRD patients who had failed to respond to a standard course of high-frequency left-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex TMS were subsequently scheduled to received IV racemic ketamine infusions. The IV racemic ketamine protocol consisted of 0,5 mg/kg infusions over 60 min, 3 times a week over 2 weeks. RESULTS: Treatment was safe with minimal side-effects. Mean baseline MADRS score was 27.6 ± 6.4 (moderate depression), decreasing down to 18.6 ± 8.9 (mild depression) post-treatment. Mean percent improvement was 34.5 % ± 21.1 from baseline to post-treatment. Paired sample t-test showed significant MADRS score decrease pre- to post-treatment [t(20) = 7.212, p < .001]. Overall, four (4) patients (19.0 %) responded and two (2) of those achieved remission (9.5 %). LIMITATIONS: Limitations of this case series include its retrospective and uncontrolled open-label nature, the lack of self-rating and standardized adverse events questionnaires, as well as follow-ups beyond the immediate treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: Novel ways to increase the clinical effects of ketamine are being explored. We discuss potential combination approaches of ketamine with other modalities to augment its effects. Given the global burden of TRD, novel approaches are needed to curb the current mental health epidemic around the world.

Learning about psychiatric aspects of medical assistance in dying: a pilot survey of self-perceived educational needs among assessors in a Canadian academic hospital.

BACKGROUND: Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was legalized in Canada in 2016, although it has been accessible as an end-of-life option in the province of Quebec since 2015. Before its implementation in clinical settings, few physicians had received formal training on requests assessments. New data indicate MAiD requesters have high rates of psychiatric comorbidities. Hence, assessment and management of psychiatric and psychosocial issues among MAiD requesters are important competencies to develop for assessors, although few training programs address them. The aim of our study was to explore physicians' self-perceived educational needs on psychiatric aspects related to MAiD in the province of Quebec. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey and used a non-probability sampling design in one academic tertiary care center. A descriptive analysis was performed, and responders were compared on different variables. RESULTS: From twenty-five physician assessors, nineteen responded anonymously to an online survey (n=19). The findings of our pilot study revealed that participants felt highly competent in most psychiatric aspects at end-of-life and related to MAiD practice, except for psychotherapy and psychopharmacology as well as depression identification. Most indicated strong interest in further training. No statistical differences were found among responders regarding previous experience or training in palliative care. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our study, MAiD assessors reported high level of competency in managing psychiatric issues among requesters, but that they also expressed a strong desire for additional education.

"I Want to Help Others Like Me": A Pilot Qualitative Study on Patients' Participation in a Screening for Distress Program.

Screening for distress was implemented in our academic hospital with the engagement of patients as partners. Little is known about how they appreciate such participation. This pilot qualitative study aimed to explore their experience. Six participants completed a semi-structured interview, which was transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was performed on the transcripts. Four themes emerged: "opinions about their participation", "working with others", "role of patient partners", and "barriers encountered". Mean global satisfaction reported on a Likert scale reached 8.92 over 10. Our preliminary findings suggest that patients-as-partners appreciated their participation, and also identified barriers that should be explored in future quality improvement (QI) projects.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation and intravenous ketamine combination therapy for treatment-resistant bipolar depression: A case report.

About a third of patients suffering from major depression develop treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Although repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and intravenous ketamine have proven effective for the management of TRD, many patients remain refractory to treatment. We present the case of a patient suffering from bipolar TRD. The patient was referred to us after failure to respond to first-and second-line pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. After minimal response to both rTMS and ketamine alone, we attempted a combination rTMS and ketamine protocol, which led to complete and sustained remission. Various comparable and complimentary mechanisms of antidepressant action of ketamine and rTMS are discussed, which support further study of this combination therapy. Future research should focus on the feasibility, tolerability, and efficacy of this novel approach.