On June 15th, 2004, FDAs 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).

Whats the delay? Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, unexpectedly decided to examine the FDAs 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 FDAs final approval. I am not aware of the Senate Finance Committees scientific and medical credentials. However, I do have first-hand knowledge of certain FDA Medical Device Panel Members lack of familiarity with the FDAs 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, 20s and 30s, and progressively got worse and more difficult to treat. If you suffer from chronic or treatment-resistant depression, you dont need a $20 million research study to tell you that depression is difficult to treat.