Posted by JLx on September 16, 2005, at 8:22:12
In reply to Vegal Nerve Stimulator, posted by leslieamy8 on September 13, 2005, at 23:09:19
> Have any of you heard about this new proceedure that can be used to help those with cronic recurrent depression?
Some info:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050906073609.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/08/050831075254.htm
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/lifestyle/consumerhealth/printer_1035315.php
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050913/datu025.html?.v=25 (Cyberonics Press Release)
I would do some very critical thinking about some of the information about this device because there are millions of dollars to be made by Cyberonics, and a lot of info that's in the press is coming from them.
Or look even at this article from one of the universities who are studying it:
VNS therapy for treatment-resistant depression proves effective for some patients
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept37389/files/238806.html
"DALLAS - Aug. 31, 2005 - Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy, a treatment recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment-resistant depression, produced a positive response in more than 25 percent of patients in a national, yearlong study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center psychiatrists.
Sixteen percent to 20 percent of the study group experienced total remission."This article reports of 3 studies. The first was 10 weeks and showed no difference between VNS turned on or not turned on.
"Dr. Rush's second multicenter trial, which included 205 of the same patients, provided active VNS therapy for a full year to all participants, measuring their symptoms of depression at regular intervals using several standard rating scales. One rating scale showed a 27.2 percent reduction in symptoms among participants and a 15.8 percent remission rate at year's end - suggesting that long-term treatment with VNS offers a greater benefit than its short-term application. A second rating scale showed reduction in symptoms by 28.2 percent and a 20.3 percent remission rate."
"The third study, of which Dr. Rush was a co-author, compared two groups of people with similar degrees of severe depression. One group was implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator as well as given other types of treatments for depression, including medication and cognitive therapy. The second group did not receive the device, but was treated for depression. Results showed a 27 percent reduction in depressive symptoms in the VNS group, compared to a 13 percent reduction in the second group."
How long was this third study? What treatment was the second group given? What rating scale was used? The same as the first study which showed only 15.8 percent remission rate at year's end for VNS? Or the one that showed 20.3 percent remission rate? How many people were in the third group? And last but not least, how can they determine that it was the VNS that was efficacious in the group that showed 27 percent reduction in depressive symptoms when that same group also received cognitive therapy and medication??
If I were considering this treatment, as I might have at one time, I would be very unsatisfied with this level of reporting.
JL
poster:JLx
thread:554879
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050812/msgs/555584.html