2f:I[703058,["/_next/static/immutable/chunks/3bhq_5eh1d760.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/1855-ogyi8eh4.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/2pfsjpn6k6zlg.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/26c7v3_3uwnwu.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/25a3ozcrvi1ff.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/2r4wx50nvjh_4.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/23fsw06hsi5b1.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/06_yt270h41rg.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/3ezsiz-7shkna.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/20x2y96ldu5wx.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/2lxntcm3pd1_h.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/00dgco8irq3jw.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/00nwe-kq0rboc.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/2051ffx3xzio9.js"],"PaperListPageClient"] 30:T9e7,Greater levels of treatment resistance in major depressive disorder (MDD) are associated with lower rates of initial benefit and higher rates of relapse (lower durability). Characterize depressive symptoms, function, and quality of life (QoL) over 24 months of adjunctive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in participants with markedly treatment-resistant depression. Prospective, open-label, single-arm, long-term extension study (RECOVER) conducted from September 2019 to April 2025. Outpatient. Adults with moderate-severe MDD with ≥ 4 failed antidepressant trials in the current episode, randomized to blinded, adjunctive VNS for 12 months, who subsequently received open-label, adjunctive VNS for 12 additional months (n = 214). Vagus nerve stimulation and concomitant psychotropic medications and interventional psychiatric modalities (electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and ketamine/esketamine) were characterized over the 12-month extension. The durability of benefit achieved at 12 months was assessed at 18 and 24 months for depressive symptoms (3 scales), daily function, QoL, a tripartite composite of all 3 domains, and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale (overall improvement). Loss of benefit and relapse were assessed, along with the emergence of meaningful benefit in participants without benefit at 12 months. Substantial benefit (at least 50% symptom reduction from baseline; CGI-I of 1 or 2; tripartite measures with at least 2 of 3 subscales evidencing benefit) and meaningful benefit thresholds for symptoms (at least 30% reduction from baseline), function, QoL, CGI-I, and the tripartite measure were set a priori. Most participants with substantial benefit maintained their benefit (18-month median = 78.8%; 24-month median = 79.0% across 5 measures), as did participants with at least meaningful benefit at 12 months (18-month median = 83.1%; 24-month median = 81.3% across 7 measures). Furthermore, many participants with no meaningful benefit at 12 months achieved it at 18 (median = 30.6%) and 24 (median = 37.8%) months. The strong maintenance of benefit was not accounted for by changes in psychotropic medications or interventional psychiatric modalities. Depressive symptom, daily function, and QoL benefits obtained after 12 months of adjunctive VNS were sustained in about 80% of participants continuing VNS. Approximately 30% with no meaningful benefit at 12 months accrued increased benefit over the subsequent year.31:Tff1,Abstract Importance Greater levels of treatment resistance in major depressive disorder (MDD) are associated with lower rates of initial benefit and higher rates of relapse (lower durability). Objective Characterize depressive symptoms, function, and quality of life (QoL) over 24 months of adjunctive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in participants with markedly treatment-resistant depression. Design Prospective, open-label, single-arm, long-term extension study (RECOVER) conducted from September 2019 to April 2025. Setting Outpatient. Participants Adults with moderate–severe MDD with ≥ 4 failed antidepressant trials in the current episode, randomized to blinded, adjunctive VNS for 12 months, who subsequently received open-label, adjunctive VNS for 12 additional months (n = 214). Interventions Vagus nerve stimulation and concomitant psychotropic medications and interventional psychiatric modalities (electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and ketamine/esketamine) were characterized over the 12-month extension. Main Outcomes and Measures The durability of benefit achieved at 12 months was assessed at 18 and 24 months for depressive symptoms (3 scales), daily function, QoL, a tripartite composite of all 3 domains, and the Clinical Global Impression–Improvement (CGI-I) scale (overall improvement). Loss of benefit and relapse were assessed, along with the emergence of meaningful benefit in participants without benefit at 12 months. Substantial benefit (at least 50% symptom reduction from baseline; CGI-I of 1 or 2; tripartite measures with at least 2 of 3 subscales evidencing benefit) and meaningful benefit thresholds for symptoms (at least 30% reduction from baseline), function, QoL, CGI-I, and the tripartite measure were set a priori. Results Most participants with substantial benefit maintained their benefit (18-month median = 78.8%; 24-month median = 79.0% across 5 measures), as did participants with at least meaningful benefit at 12 months (18-month median = 83.1%; 24-month median = 81.3% across 7 measures). Furthermore, many participants with no meaningful benefit at 12 months achieved it at 18 (median = 30.6%) and 24 (median = 37.8%) months. The strong maintenance of benefit was not accounted for by changes in psychotropic medications or interventional psychiatric modalities. Conclusions and Relevance Depressive symptom, daily function, and QoL benefits obtained after 12 months of adjunctive VNS were sustained in about 80% of participants continuing VNS. Approximately 30% with no meaningful benefit at 12 months accrued increased benefit over the subsequent year. Highlights 25:[[["$","script","0",{"type":"application/ld+json","dangerouslySetInnerHTML":{"__html":"{\"@context\":\"https://schema.org\",\"@type\":\"CollectionPage\",\"name\":\"Open-Label Extension: study design Research & Clinical Takeaways\",\"description\":\"Explore peer-reviewed papers on Open-Label Extension (study design). Clinician-written summaries and actionable practice insights. 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Outcomes included depressive symptoms (3 scales), daily function, quality of life, a tripartite composite, and CGI‑I; concomitant medications and interventional therapies were tracked.","key_result":"Among those with substantial benefit at 12 months, the median proportion maintaining benefit was 78.8% at 18 months and 79.0% at 24 months (across 5 measures). For participants with at least meaningful benefit at 12 months, medians were 83.1% at 18 months and 81.3% at 24 months (across 7 measures); among those without meaningful benefit at 12 months, 30.6% at 18 months and 37.8% at 24 months achieved it. Maintenance was not explained by changes in psychotropic medications or interventional modalities.","limitations":"Open‑label, single‑arm extension without a control group limits causal inference. Concomitant treatments were allowed, posing potential confounding despite analyses suggesting they did not account for maintenance. 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