Vns

[docpsych]

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Now that VNS has been approved by FDA, how prevalent will it be in psych practice? In what settings are will likely to order this and observe the effects--university setting,community hospital, or private hospitals in affluent suburbs. Can someone provide some insight onto the role psychiatrist will play in VNS as management of depression.
I personally think it is going to become quite prevalent. Not only for depression but may expand into other mood disorders.
How will psychistrist get trained in VNS as treatment option? Is this possibly going to mean more $$$ for psychiatrist in future. Not that i'm all about $$$, but every other speciality is being well compensated these days so psych shoudl as well.

So anyone have updates on pain management fellowship for psych. As much as i like psych, i miss doing procedures. How likely is it that i can get pain fellowship after psych. My understanding is many anesth do not like doing it because of the chronic "pain killer" seeker.

 

[Anasazi23]

I don't think this is going to become very prevalent. Psychiatrically, the indications are for refractory depression only, and the benefits generally don't come until at least a year of use. As Werner states, the "depressive character" may be to blame.

Psychiatrists will likely order this implantation as a last resort procedure, and in patients that are willing to tolerate it. It does have some uncomfortable side effects. Others simply state it's uncomfortable most of the time.

We already have a more effective, albeit slightly more "scary" (in some patients' view) treatment in ect. As we know, this procedure is quite safe, and has great efficacy ratings. Personally, I'd take a course of ect over vagus nerve stim.

You mention reimbursement for these procedures and their maintenance. Don't worry...they're on the horizon.

Here's a link to the vagus nerve stimulator approval and description page:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/mda/docs/p970003s050.html

More interesting is TMS.
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