Methods for enhancing exposure therapy using pairing with vagus nerve stimulation

A therapy method for a patient having a phobia disorder, therapy method comprising:

• providing an extinction event to the patient which is related to something that contributed to the phobia;
• and
• during a therapy session which includes the extinction event, electrically stimulating the patient's vagus nerve using a neurostimulator, thereby at least partially alleviating the phobia disorder.

A therapy method for a patient having an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the therapy method comprising:

• providing a therapy event to the patient which is related to something that contributed to the OCD;
• and
• during a therapy session which includes the therapy event, electrically stimulating the patient's vagus nerve using a neurostimulator.

A therapy method for a patient having an addiction disorder, the therapy method comprising:

• providing a therapy event to a patient which is related to one or more things that contributed to the addiction-disorder;
• and
• during a therapy session which includes the therapy event, electrically stimulating the patient's vagus nerve using a neurostimulator.