What patient population is FDA-approved for therapeutic use of vagal nerve stimulation?

The correct response is based on the specific FDA approval criteria for vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). This therapy is specifically indicated for use in patients over the age of 12 who have drug-resistant epilepsy and also for those suffering from treatment-resistant depression. The FDA has established this approval to address patients whose conditions have not sufficiently responded to traditional treatments, thereby affirming VNS as a legitimate therapeutic option for these particular populations.

Understanding why this answer is correct involves recognizing the significance of the age and condition specifications tied to the FDA's evaluations. For VNS, the approval is not merely based on age but significantly relates to the presence of drug-resistant epilepsy and depression, highlighting the therapy's safety and efficacy only within these patient groups. Other age groups and conditions mentioned in the other choices do not align with FDA approvals for VNS, as they either fall outside the established age range or do not present conditions for which VNS has been validated as an appropriate treatment.