| Within the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to | | | | electro-convulsive therapy. In the FDA investigational |
| issue its final approval of a medical breakthrough | | | | studies, it was proven that stimulation to the left vagus |
| treatment for chronic or treatment-resistant | | | | nerve favorably modulates those areas of the brain |
| depression. This new therapy will be presented at the | | | | responsible for mood and depression. There are no |
| American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting in | | | | pain fibers in the vagus nerve, so most patients do not |
| Atlanta from May 21st-May 25th. The Annual Meeting | | | | feel any discomfort or sensation when the device is |
| is the largest gathering of psychiatrists in the world. | | | | activated.When approved, vagus nerve stimulation will |
| Over 25,000 psychiatrists are expected to attend this | | | | be the first FDA approved long-term therapy for |
| important medical meeting.After an eight-year | | | | patients who have not had an adequate response to |
| investigation of vagus nerve stimulation and depression, | | | | traditional antidepressants.Learn more how this therapy |
| the FDA has deemed the therapy approvable with its | | | | can bring genuine happiness and joy to your life at |
| final and binding approval decision expected within the | | | | There is a free newsletter to keep you up-to-date on |
| next two weeks. Upon final approval, patients will be | | | | the latest developments. Also available on the site is |
| able to get a prescription( from their psychiatrist) for | | | | the book Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to |
| vagus nerve stimulation, also called VNS Therapy. | | | | Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression. Do yourself |
| Vagus nerve stimulation has been FDA approved for | | | | a favor and become fully educated about this |
| epilepsy patients since 1997. Over 30,000 epilespy | | | | remarkable device. It could change your life.Charles |
| patients have safely been implanted with the stimulator. | | | | Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial |
| The vagus nerve nerve is a direct pathway to the | | | | of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic |
| hippocampus and hypothalmus in the brain.The 60-90 | | | | or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. He was |
| minute out-patient procedure is performed by a | | | | implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in April of |
| neurosurgeon or an otolaryngologist( Ear, nose and | | | | 2001. He chronicles his journey from the grips of |
| throat). A small pacemaker-like stimulator is imlanted in | | | | depression thanks to vagus nerve stimulation therapy |
| the patient's upper left chest, just below the left arm | | | | in his book:Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide |
| pit. A lead wire from the stimulator is tunneled | | | | to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and DepressionThe book |
| underneath the skin and coiled around the left vagus | | | | will be exhibited at the American Psychiatric |
| nerve in the patient's neck. The two- inch incision is | | | | Association's Annual Meeting, May 21st-May 26th in |
| made at the lowest fold of the neck and the surgeon's | | | | Atlanta, GA. This is the largest gathering of |
| knife never goes above the lowest part of the | | | | psychiatrists in the world( 25,000 attendees).He is the |
| neck.The procedure is unrelated to brain surgery or | | | | founder of the Web Site. |