Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Williston Park: A Lasting Option for Depression That Hasn't Budged

Long before depression treatment considered an implanted device, cardiologists had already been using them for decades, correcting irregular heartbeats with pacemakers first placed in 1958. Vagus nerve stimulation brings that same principle to the brain, using a small generator under the skin to send steady electrical signals along the vagus nerve into regions that regulate mood.

At Anxiety & Depression Psychiatry, our vagus nerve stimulation clinic in Williston Park serves adults whose treatment-resistant depression has continued despite medication changes, therapy, and other interventions. Many patients here also consider our ketamine therapy service in Williston Park while exploring their options, and residents can find local mental health support through the Town of North Hempstead’s health services.

Extending from the base of the brain through the neck into the chest and abdomen, the vagus nerve is one of the body’s longest nerves, influencing heart rate, digestion, breathing, and mood as it travels.

A VNS system relies on a small pulse generator, comparable in size to a pocket watch, implanted beneath the skin near the collarbone. A thin wire connects it to the left vagus nerve in the neck, where it delivers programmed electrical pulses at set intervals.

These pulses reach into brain networks responsible for mood regulation, and consistent stimulation over time appears to encourage new neural connections to form. That gradual process explains why VNS builds its effect slowly, though the results tend to be lasting once established.

VNS received FDA clearance in 2005 as an additional treatment option for adults with chronic or recurring depression who haven’t improved after at least four different antidepressant trials. The American Psychiatric Association includes VNS among options to consider once standard treatments, ECT among them, haven’t produced lasting improvement.

VNS could be a reasonable option if:

• Multiple antidepressant medications haven’t brought sustained relief
• Depression continues to reappear despite consistent treatment
• Other approaches such as TMS, ketamine, or Spravato haven’t maintained their effect
• Continuous treatment appeals more than repeat sessions or ongoing dosing

VNS also holds FDA approval for bipolar depression and may be combined with existing medications or used as a standalone treatment.

A comprehensive systematic review examining long-term efficacy and safety of VNS in treatment-resistant depression pooled outcomes across multiple cohort studies and case series, finding response rates ranging from roughly a third to well over half of patients depending on the study population.

A separate one-year, randomized, sham-controlled trial published in Brain Stimulation, conducted across dozens of sites, evaluated adjunctive VNS in adults with markedly treatment-resistant depression and reported measurable gains in depressive symptoms, daily functioning, and overall well-being.

Durability continues to stand out as one of VNS’s defining strengths. Once implanted, the device requires no repeat office visits or additional dosing to keep working, with the battery typically lasting close to a decade before replacement becomes necessary.

If depression has persisted through round after round of treatment, the best vagus nerve stimulation in Williston Park is worth a direct conversation with our team. Call (646) 830-0131 to schedule a consultation and determine whether VNS or a different interventional path suits your situation.

“A device built to steady heartbeats now helps steady mood, which still amazes me every time I see it work.” — Dr. Tomer Levin