Activity Overview
This online, on-demand virtual symposium brings together renowned experts in the treatment of depression and the use of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) for the management of difficult-to-treat depression. In this educational program, these experts review the differences between treatment-resistant depression and difficult-to-treat depression and discuss the role of neuromodulation therapies, including VNS, for the management of difficult-to-treat depression.
This educational activity is an archive of the live virtual symposium held on July 10, 2026.
Target Audience
This educational activity is directed toward psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, and other health care providers 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, DFAPA
Medical Director of ATP Clinical Research
Costa Mesa, CA
Torrance, CA
Disclosures: Advisor, Consultant, Fee-for-Service Recipient: AbbVie, Acadia, Alkermes, Axsome Therapeutics, Biogen, Johnson & Johnson, Neurocrine, Supernus, Teva; Speakers Bureau: AbbVie, Acadia, Alkermes, Axsome, Biogen, Johnson & Johnson, Neurocrine, Supernus, Teva; Grant/Research Funding (to institution): AbbVie, Acadia, Alkermes, Axsome, Biogen, Cybin/Helus, Definium Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, Neurocrine, Supernus, Teva, Transcend
Lara Shirikjian, DO
Medical Director
Principal Investigator
CenExel
Torrance, CA
Disclosures: Advisor, Consultant, Fee-for-Service Recipient: Bristol Myers Squibb; Speakers Bureau: Axsome Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson
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.