Activity Overview
This online, on-demand virtual symposium brings together renowned experts in psychiatry. In this educational program, these experts discuss emerging data on the treatment of difficult-to-treat depression (DTD), with a forward-looking perspective on how neuromodulation might impact clinical practice and patient outcomes.
This educational activity is an archive of the live virtual symposium held on October 2, 2026.
System requirements for this online activity are available here.
The activity is free to all users.
Target Audience
This educational activity is directed toward psychiatrists, psychiatric NPs, PAs, RNs, pharmacists, and other HCPs involved in the management of patients with difficult-to-treat depression.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this activity, you should be better prepared to:
- Describe the criteria used to define difficult-to-treat depression.
- Assess the safety and efficacy of VNS in the management of difficult-to-treat depression.
- Implement strategies to identify patients with difficult-to-treat depression who may be appropriate candidates for VNS therapy.
Gus Alva, MD, DLFAPA
Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists
Medical Director, ATP Clinical Research
Medical Director, Senior Brain Health, Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA
Disclosures: Advisor, Consultant, Fee for Service Recipient: AbbVie, Acadia, Alkermes, Axsome Therapeutics, Biogen, Johnson & Johnson, Neurocrine, Supernus, Teva Pharmaceuticals; Speakers Bureau: AbbVie, Acadia, Alkermes, Axsome Therapeutics, Biogen, Johnson & Johnson, Neurocrine, Supernus, Teva Pharmaceuticals; Grant/Research Funding (to institution): AbbVie, Acadia, Alkermes, Axsome Therapeutics, Biogen, Cybin (Helus Pharma), Definium Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, Neurocrine, Supernus, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Transcend Therapeutics.
Lisa Harding, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
Medical Director, Mood Institute
Yale School of Medicine
New Haven, CT
Disclosures: Advisor, Consultant, Fee for Service Recipient: AbbVie, Axsome Therapeutics, Compass Pathways, GH Research, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Otsuka; Speakers Bureau: Axsome Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson; Grant/Research Funding (to institution): PCORI.
Joseph F. Goldberg, MD
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
Teaching Attending Psychiatrist
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Private practice, Norwalk, CT
New York, NY
Disclosures: Advisor, Consultant, Fee for Service Recipient: AbbVie, Alkermes, Axsome, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genomind, Luye Pharmaceuticals, Neumora, Neurelis, Otsuka, Puretech; Speakers Bureau: Alkermes, Axsome, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Vanda Pharmaceuticals; Royalty or Patent Benefits: American Psychiatric Publishing, Cambridge University Press.
The staff of Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.
PER® mitigated all conflicts of interest for faculty, staff, and planners prior to the start of this activity by using a multistep process.
Off-Label Disclosure and Disclaimer
This accredited continuing education activity was planned in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence to ensure balance, objectivity, independence, and scientific rigor. Faculty were instructed to use generic names when possible and to base recommendations on the best available evidence. Proprietary product names may be referenced in clinical discussion for educational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
This activity may include discussion of investigational, unapproved, or off‑label uses of drugs or devices. Learners are advised to consult prescribing information for products discussed. Content is provided for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent clinical judgment of a health care professional. Learners are encouraged to critically evaluate the information presented and apply their own clinical judgment.
The views expressed are those of the individual faculty members and do not necessarily reflect the views of the accredited provider or any entity providing commercial support.
This activity may have used AI-assisted tools to support educational development. All content was reviewed and approved by qualified faculty or planners. The accredited provider retains full responsibility for accuracy, balance, and independence.
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Create AccountAlready Registered? Login HereAccreditation/Credit Designation
Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #16669, for 1.0 Contact Hour.
Physicians Education Resource®, LLC is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This Application-based activity is approved for a maximum of 1.0 contact hour (1.0 CEU) under UAN # 0661-0000-26-031-H01-P. This UAN # expires 01/31/2028.
Eligibility for credits requires full engagement with the enduring activity, completion of the post-activity assessment questions, completion and submission of the activity evaluation, NABP e-pid # and month/date of birth within 30 days of activity completion. No partial credits are given.
Acknowledgment of Commercial Support
This activity is supported by an educational grant from LivaNova.