Depression Information

Senate Finance Committee Delays FDA Approval of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy for Depression


On June 15th, 2004, FDA's Medical Devices Panel recommended that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve vagus nerve stimulation as a therapy for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. I was at the meeting, seated in the first row and made a presentation to the Panel.

Yet, one year later, we still do not have a final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What's the delay? Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, unexpectedly decided to examine the FDA's decision to allow this therapy to be used to treat depression. Vagus nerve stimulation therapy has been FDA approved for epilepsy for eight years. Although this is not a formal investigation, it is apparently an impediment to the immediate issuance of FDA's final approval. I am not aware of the Senate Finance Committee's scientific and medical credentials. However, I do have first-hand knowledge of certain FDA Medical Device Panel Members lack of familiarity with the FDA's own regulations and guidelines.

If you would like to express your outrage at the continued delay of final FDA approval, please contact:

U.S. Senate Committee on Finance
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6200
Sen. Grassley Staff: (202) 224-4515
Sen. Baucus Staff: (202) 224-5315

Senator Chuck Grassley
Chairman, Senate Finance Committee
135 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510-1501
(202) 224-3744 Telephone
Web Link for e-mail: http://grassley.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

Ironically, this one-year anniversary coincides with the issuance of a $20 million landmark study sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health. This is the most comprehensive mental health study undertaken by the government. The study reported that 25% of Americans suffered a psychiatric disorder in the year prior to the survey, but most failed to get adequate care. Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health commented that "mental disorders are highly prevalent and chronic." As expected, researchers found that the most common disorder was depression. Depression typically started in early adulthood, 20's and 30's, and progressively got worse and more difficult to treat. If you suffer from chronic or treatment-resistant depression, you don't need a $20 million research study to tell you that depression is difficult to treat.

Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial for vagus nerve stimulation and depression. He testified to the Panel at the Advisory Meeting on June 15th, 2004. After 25 years of chronic depression, vagus nerve stimulation completely cured his chronic depression. The author is most grateful and humbled by this remarkable device. Learn more at his website: http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com or read about this life-saving, life altering therapy in his book:

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression.

It is available at on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, 1-888-VAGUS-88 or on his web site, http://www.vagusnervestimulator.com/book/


MORE RESOURCES:

The Associated Press

Poll: 60% say depression 'likely'
CNNMoney.com - 13 hours ago
Poll finds 6 of 10 believe a depression is somewhat or very likely - seeing 25% unemployed and millions homeless and hungry. By Chris Isidore, CNNMoney.com ...
HOW STUFF WORKS: ; What Exactly is an Economic Depression? istockAnalyst.com (press release)
From worse to bad Chicago Tribune
Economists getting gloomier about outlook MSNBC
Voice of America - MarketWatch
all 273 news articles


Wall Street Journal

We're Not Headed for a Depression
Wall Street Journal - 5 hours ago
Although it is the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, it is a far smaller crisis, especially in terms of the effects on ...


Times Online

WWRPD - Waht Would Ron Paul Do? Prepare for a Depression
Nolan Chart LLC, VA - 11 hours ago
The parallels to the period before the Great Depression are eerie. by Jim Quinn "Gentlemen, I have had men watching you for a long time, and I am convinced ...
Could Obama be the new Roosevelt? Times Online
Then & now San Diego Union Tribune
Does the US face Great Depression II? Hindu
RGE Monitor - USA Today
all 119 news articles


Ex-NFL quarterback attempting to sack depression
Vancouver Sun,  Canada - 7 hours ago
When depression sacked Eric Hipple, he didn't even realize the power and potency of the opponent he was facing. After enduring a personal tragedy - the 2000 ...


Baltimore Sun

Atlantic hurricane season's 13th tropical depression forms off ...
CNN - 17 hours ago
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- The 13th tropical depression of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season formed Monday in the Bay of Campeche, just off Mexico's Yucatan ...
Depression may form in Mexico's Bay of Campeche - NHC Reuters India
Hurricane Hunter aircraft to investigate tropical depression in ... BYM News (press release)
Tropical Depression 13 Swirls Near Mexico Central Florida News 13|
Reuters AlertNet - Local10.com
all 1,556 news articles


Two events mark Mental Health Awareness Week and Anxiety and ...
Alexandria Town Talk, LA - 2 hours ago
The Alexandria Wellness Center will offer free depression screenings from 9 am-1 pm Friday at its offices at 2006 Gus Kaplan Dr., Suite D. Alexandria ...


Are we depresssed yet?
Los Angeles Times, CA - 2 hours ago
It was a frightful reminder of perhaps the most widely believed legend about the Great Depression of the 1930s; that the sudden collapse of the economy ...
Our leaders forgot financial lessons of history TheReporter.com
all 2 news articles


Reuters

Studios' 'final offer' safe for now
Hollywood Reporter, United States - 6 hours ago
The union, afterall, was formed during the Great Depression when the studios asked actors to take a 50% pay cut, he added. In any event, the worsening US ...
US actors union leader confident on strike vote Reuters
Hollywood actors union seeks authority for strike Screen Weekly
SAG negotiators ask board for strike vote Westfall Weekly News
all 35 news articles


RTE.ie

No depression, major recession, from US finance crisis: Bill Gates
AFP - Oct 5, 2008
"It looks like the economy may go down somewhat, but nothing like a big recession or a depression," he added. On some experts' misgivings about the US ...
Bill Gates: US financial crisis won't lead to end of capitalism ... Jerusalem Post
all 77 news articles


Signs of depression
Inquirer.net, Philippines - 16 hours ago
So what is depression? Affecting 121 million people worldwide, the World Health Organization estimates that by 2020 depression will become the most ...
'Nothing is all in the mind' Inquirer.net
all 2 news articles

Depression - Google News

home | site map
© 2006