A Case Report of Hypomania Following Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Refractory Epilepsy

Letter to the Editor

Sir: One of the adverse effects of antidepressant treatments is the induction of a transition from depression to mania or hypomania, particularly in bipolar patients. Mood improvements in patients undergoing vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for refractory epilepsy were noted in early clinical trials. Since then, the efficacy of VNS for treatment-resistant depression has been investigated. We report a case in which the mood-elevating properties of VNS led to a hypomanic state in an individual receiving VNS for refractory epilepsy.