What fascinates me about the news media and the articles and commentary bandied about is the fact that how little research some of these reporters expend on the subject matter.

Most folks will just take at face value what’s reported as fact while it just so happens there are some subjects I am reasonably well versed and I'm capable of sharing differences of opinion.

In one of the articles you cited, I’ll quote “The FDA will also examine new evidence on a therapy they've already approved, called vagus-nerve stimulation.”

In fact, part of the purpose of the panel meeting is to see the current status of two studies which Cyberonics agreed to and were conditional upon the FDA approval of vagus nerve stimulation.

Whether or not additional “evidence” is presented as to the safety or efficacy is not the purpose of the meeting.

http://www.vnsdepression.com/pp10-010032-articles_12-26-06-US-FDA-panel-to-review-studies-of-Cyberonics-device.htm

Furthermore, TMS (Transcranial Magnet Stimulation) is the primary subject matter and is up for approval at this device panel meeting and there is recent information that has also come to light not favorable to this form of treatment which I also referenced in part of my letter to the FDA relating to the device panel meeting January 26, 2007 which some of your readers might have interest in reading.

http://www.vnsdepression.com/pp10-010051-articles_1-7-07-Medical-Devices-Advisory-Committee-meeting-to-be-held-on-January-26-2007.htm

I also differ with “Wayne Blackmon, a Washington, D.C. psychiatrist” comments as I don’t believe he knows that much about the either therapy and his comment about TMS being “cheaper” is somewhat laughable becomes he lacks the overall picture and never bothered crunching some numbers.

I thought I’d take a moment to share “the rest of the story” as Paul Harvey would say.

Warmly,
Herb
VNSdepression.com

.

Whoa. I'd rather be dead. I'm afraid that stuff could mess up someone's mind just as bad, if not worse than ECT. Just in different ways.

This picture reminded me of a photoblog entry that a blogger posted earlier this week.. Worth a look, it's pretty funny and of course you gotta feel for the girl going through it.

EEG Hell

To the readership,

All too often one is inundated with the news media's blaring headlines from newspapers or from some TV news broadcast and one never obtains the meat of the story or is able to follow the original story to a reasonable conclusion/end.

Well, in the words of Paul Harvey, "and here's the rest of the story."

Back in October 2006, TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) was on many lips and many minds including mine.

A date was scheduled for the therapy to appear before the FDA Device Panel of Experts. It was then rescheduled for January 26, 2007, today. Along the way they also incorporated into that meeting Cyberonics having to report on the status of two of their studies. The first being the Dosing study referred to as the D-21 study and the long-term Registry study.

While I am for all therapies that offer reasonable safety and efficacy for the TRD patient I was hoping this too might become another treatment option for the patient and his/her doctor to consider.

"Advisors said they were skeptical that the device, called NeuroStar, is effective in depressed patients, or that it poses any advantage over placebo."

I gathered a presentation for the reader to get a feel of the beginning and end of this story, at the moment, "and here's the rest of the story"

TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)

http://www.vnsdepression.com/pp10-926-articles_10-19-06-FDA-Delays-Meeting-on-Depression-Device.htm

Warmly,
Herb
VNSdepression.com

__________________
"What we have done for
ourselves alone dies with us;
what we have done for
others and the world remains
and is immortal" - Albert Pike