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