A new depression treatment - and why it doesn't work

Today's Sacramento Bee reports on a new and controversial treatment for depression, Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS). According to the Bee's report, the treatment has been approved by the FDA in spite of minimal evidence that it actually works.

It's an interesting read, and I'll admit, one that left me puzzled. While it's great to have any additional treatments available that even might work to treat otherwise unresponsive depression, is it justifiable to ask such patients (or their insurers) to spend $40,000 on an unproven treatment? From the outside, I would say no, of course not; but if I were suffering from such a depression, I suspect I'd pay anything for even a little bit of hope.