| In an effort to further understand why vagus | | | | objective of the TRD Registry is to follow |
| nerve stimulation therapy is more effective | | | | the clinical course and outcome for patients |
| than anitidepressants with patients who | | | | with TRD treated with and without adjunctive |
| suffer from chronic depression, the | | | | VNS Therapy. In order to be included in the |
| manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator, | | | | study, patients must be suffering depression, |
| Cyberonics, Inc., announced the launch of the | | | | who are experiencing a major depressive |
| first treatment-resistant depression(TRD) | | | | episode and have not had an adequate response |
| patient registry. This registry that will | | | | to four or more adequate treatments. Half of |
| help the medical community's understanding of | | | | the patients in the registry will receive |
| TRD, and determine which pateints are most | | | | adjunctive VNS Therapy. Thirty patients, of |
| appropriate for this procedure. I think that | | | | which 25 receive VNS Therapy, have already |
| the data produced from the registry will | | | | been enrolled in the registry.This is very |
| significantly help psychiatrists further | | | | important for all sufferers of chronic |
| understanding how this vagus nerve | | | | depression, their families and loved ones. |
| stimulation is effective.There are twenty-two | | | | The more data, the better. Fortunately, I was |
| centers across the United Stated which will | | | | implanted with this device over five years |
| participate in this very valuable study. Some | | | | ago in the investigational trial. It is now |
| of the centers which have agreed to | | | | an FDA approved procedure, which requires a |
| participate in the TRD Registry are: | | | | prescription from your psychiatrist.You can |
| Columbia University/New York Presbyterian | | | | learn more about this treatment at Donovan |
| Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital | | | | was a patient in the FDA investigational |
| Sheppard Pratt Health System UT Southwestern | | | | trial of vagus nerve stimulation as a |
| Medical Center at Dallas Medical University | | | | treatment for chronic or recurrent |
| of South Carolina University of Connecticut | | | | treatment-resistant depression. He was |
| Health Center SUNY Upstate Medical University | | | | implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in |
| at Syracuse Oregon Health & Science | | | | April of 2001. He chronicles his journey from |
| University University of Florida University | | | | the grips of depression thanks to vagus nerve |
| of South Florida Wake Forest University | | | | stimulation therapy in his book:Out of the |
| Florida Atlantic University University of | | | | Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus |
| Mississippi Medical Center Buffalo Medical | | | | Nerve Stimulation and Depression. Forward by |
| Group, University of Pittsburgh Henry Ford | | | | John M. Zajecka, M.D. of Rush University |
| Health System University of Massachusetts | | | | Medical and Nancy Williger, Ph.D. of |
| University of Utah Medical College of | | | | Washington UniversityHis all inclusive book |
| Virginia and Rush-Presbyterian ChicagoThe TRD | | | | prepares depression sufferers to make an |
| Registry is overseen by the TRD Registry | | | | informed decision about this ninety-minute |
| Advisory Board led by Martin B. Keller, M.D., | | | | out-patient procedure. It is a "must read" |
| Mary E. Zucker Professor and Chairman, | | | | before you discuss this treatment with your |
| Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, | | | | psychiatrist. A prescription for the |
| Brown Medical School, Providence, RI. There | | | | procedure is required from an M.D. and it is |
| are several objectives of the registry, which | | | | covered by most insurance plans.He is the |
| will include 2,000 patients. The main | | | | founder of the Web Site and Bulletin. |