The September 1, 2005 issue of Biological Psychiatry confirmed the efficacy and safety of vagus nerve stimulation for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued its final approval of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for depression.
The data from the pivotal clinical trial of vagus nerve stimulation and depression was been on published September 1st, in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal of Biological Psychiatry. There were three articles published in Biological Psychiatryabout VNS Therapy and depression. The articles confirm the association of VNS Therapy with significant antidepressant benefits that are sustained and/or growing over one year for patients with chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. Secondly, the long-term safety of the procedure was confirmed.
"The response and remission and sustained long-term benefits realized by the patients treated with adjunctive VNS Therapy is remarkable, given that participants in the trials were some of the most treatment-resistant, depressed patients ever studied, with at least half having been hospitalized for the disease at least once," commented Dr. A. John Rush, MD, Professor and Vice Chairman for Research, Department of Psychiatry, Betty Jo Hay Chair in Mental Health, Rosewood Corporation Chair in Biomedical Science, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX. "The VNS studies presented in these publications provide substantial evidence of a growing benefit of VNS Therapy over time when other treatments have not worked or have stopped working. This is particularly encouraging given the nature of treatment-resistant depression, a devastating and difficult to treat condition."
The publication of these articles is very important to you because third party payers (private insurance companies, Medicare, etc.) will help facilitate the approval of reimbursement of VNS Therapy for depression. Although reimbursement decisions will continue to be on a case-by-case basis, this is a critical next step which will be viewed very positively by insurance companies, Medicare as well as your psychiatrist.
You can learn more about this remarkable treatment at http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com There is a free newsletter to keep you up-to-date on the latest developments on this first ever FDA approved long term treatment option for chronic or recurrent depression.
Charles Donovan was a study study subject in the FDA investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation and chronic depression. He is the author of:
Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression and founder of the http://wwww.VagusNerveStimulator.com Web site - which is available on Amazon.com, 1-888-VAGUS-88 and at http://www.vagusnervestimulator.com/book/
When artiste Leslie Cheung committed suicide, he left behind a... Read More
In every moment of our life we have the choice... Read More
It may come in waves, it may control our lives.... Read More
What's curious is that most of them will be on... Read More
Vagus nerve stimulation is more effective than antidepressants and is... Read More
There are many things that happen within the body when... Read More
Lifetime Prevalence of Depression and the Age-of-Onset Report Distributions of... Read More
Typical signs of depression actually show a change in the... Read More
Our innate desire is to be happy, and when we... Read More
It is now no secret that people all over the... Read More
During the assessment process it is of great importance for... Read More
Depression is a mental state marked by melancholy, pessimism or... Read More
Having lived with a depressed partner for 3 years and... Read More
Depression strikes most of us and it can make us... Read More
Not long ago, I attended a mastermind group. During the... Read More
On February 3, 2005 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration... Read More
The bright yellow flower of the St Johns Wort (hypericum... Read More
1.Remember that it is an illness:Clinical depression often requires medical... Read More
Maria has been feeling depressed for at least two and... Read More
Many illnesses, emotional and otherwise, are often said to be... Read More
The manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator has begun face-to... Read More
Depression, in psychiatry, is a symptom of mood disorder characterized... Read More
According to the World Health Organization, 4 of the 10... Read More
On September 30th 1998 I was crossing the street in... Read More
Final FDA approval of vagus nerve stimulation as a therapy... Read More
Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Depression are absolutely systemic in our... Read More
On June 15th, 2004, FDA's Medical Devices Panel recommended that... Read More
Music so strongly evokes emotional responses that it is being... Read More
Depression is the most prevalent disease of our time. Under... Read More
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Treatment-Resistant Depression About Vagus Nerve... Read More
Only somebody who has lived with anxiety ? as either... Read More
Looking for a way to reduce the amount of worrying... Read More
With the current interest in mental health topics, a mental... Read More
As a counselor, I am often asked, "Can drugs be... Read More
Depression is a mental state marked by melancholy, pessimism or... Read More
Depression, in psychiatry, is a symptom of mood disorder characterized... Read More
The Law of BlueJust sort of feeling blue, kinda out... Read More
On June 15th, 2004, FDA's Medical Devices Panel recommended that... Read More
With the current interest in mental health topics, a mental... Read More
A zoo attendant entered a lion cage carrying only a... Read More
Market surveys on women, men and depression suggest an estimated... Read More
With the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to... Read More
Being lonely is a normal share of our everyday lives.... Read More
August in Florida has a daily ritual that Floridians take... Read More
Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Depression are absolutely systemic in our... Read More
The cover of the March 7, 2005 issue of Business... Read More
What is Stigma? Stigma is the use of stereotypes and... Read More
Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives.... Read More
FDA confirms some antidepressants increase suicide risk in some children.... Read More
On June 2 at 8:00 pm ET, Reuters news service... Read More
For those who face depression, every day of their lives... Read More
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a... Read More
Andropause correlates directly with depression ? a major player in... Read More
Long term care facilities and residents' doctors should consider combining... Read More
According to the World Health Organization, 4 of the 10... Read More
There is one very simple reason for all emotional depression.In... Read More
Vagus nerve stimulation is more effective than antidepressants and is... Read More
It is true that forms of depression cannot be avoided,... Read More
Scientologists believe that chemical imbalances do not exist. In their... Read More
While it may be easy to recite the various brand... Read More
On September 30th 1998 I was crossing the street in... Read More
I felt cold, my body was stiff and my back... Read More
There are several factors can lead to depression after heart... Read More
The 'experts' have tried to evaluate me as a sufferer... Read More
Depression has long been considered a character flaw indicative of... Read More
Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives.... Read More
Depression |