深部脑刺激技术可以治疗抗药性抑郁症

[moomoofarm]

Deep brain stimulation技术用来治疗抗药性抑郁症似乎是一个很具有前景的方法。

加拿大St. Jude公司使用DBS产品对21名长期（20年）抑郁症患者进行治疗，通过植入DBS，刺激布罗德曼25区。半年后，通过
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression进行症状测定，发现62%的患者症状减轻了了40%。

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http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=73836&p=irol-newsArticle_print&id=1289452

According to the latest data in a clinical study supported by St. Jude
Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy for
depression may provide sustainable improvement in depression symptoms
among patients with major depressive disorder. Study results will be
presented today at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) meeting
in San Francisco.

This study profiles 21 patients with DBS therapy in the area of the
brain known as Brodmann Area 25, most of whom have completed one year
of post-surgery evaluation. At six months, 62 percent of the patients
experienced at least a 40-percent decrease in symptoms of depression
as measured by a standardized test called the Hamilton Rating Scale
for Depression. Of these patients, 92 percent maintained this
improvement at their last follow-up visit (typically at one year).
Additionally, 71 percent of all patients in the study exhibited at
least a 40-percent decrease in symptoms of depression as measured by
the Hamilton scale.

"Typically these patients do not maintain responses to traditional
approaches such as medications and electroconvulsive therapy," said
Peter Giacobbe, M.D., psychiatrist with the University Health Network
in Toronto and presenter of the study results. "We are encouraged that
this data indicates DBS therapy may provide sustainable improvement in
the quality of life for these patients."

Ongoing at three leading Canadian academic medical centers, the study
utilizes the St. Jude Medical Libra(R) Deep Brain Stimulation System to
deliver stimulation to an area of the brain known as Brodmann Area 25,
which appears to become overactive in severely depressed people. The
pilot study builds upon the research of Helen Mayberg, M.D., and
Andres Lozano, M.D.

Patients in the study had suffered from depression for an average of
20 years, had tried in excess of 12 depression medications and were
considered disabled or unable to work at the time of enrollment. At
the 12-month evaluation point, eight of the study patients had
returned to daily life activities such as school, work and sustaining
relationships with family and friends, and two patients were
considered to be in remission.

"These results are important as they contribute to the growing body of
research about the potential benefits deep brain stimulation may
provide this patient population," said Chris Chavez, president of the
St. Jude Medical Neuromodulation Division. "We are committed to
expanding our research into the field of depression and to completing
the BROADEN(tm) study to determine whether stimulation of Brodmann Area
25 is clinically significant in treating severely depressed patients
who have exhausted other treatment options."

The early results of the Brodmann Area 25 pilot study led to the
establishment of the BROADEN (BROdmann Area 25 DEep brain
Neuromodulation) study, a larger controlled, blinded pivotal study.
The BROADEN study is being conducted under a U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) Investigational Device Exemption (IDE). For more
information about this clinical study, call toll-free 866-787-4332 or
visit www.BROADENstudy.com.

An estimated 21 million adult Americans suffer from depression
according to the National Mental Health Advisory Council. Of these,
approximately 4 million live with severe depression that does not
respond to medications, psychotherapy and, in certain cases,
electroconvulsive therapy.

The Libra Deep Brain Stimulation System is currently approved in
Europe for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease. St. Jude
Medical has clinical studies underway in the U.S. for Parkinson's
disease and essential tremor. More than 45,000 patients in 35
countries have been implanted with St. Jude Medical neurostimulation
systems. For more information about St. Jude Medical pain therapies,
visit www.PowerOverYourPain.com.

About St. Jude Medical

St. Jude Medical develops medical technology and services that focus
on putting more control into the hands of those who treat cardiac,
neurological and chronic pain patients worldwide. The company is
dedicated to advancing the practice of medicine by reducing risk
wherever possible and contributing to successful outcomes for every
patient. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., St. Jude Medical employs
approximately 14,000 people worldwide and has four major focus areas
that include: cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation,
cardiovascular and neuromodulation. For more information, please visit
www.sjm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that
involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements
include the expectations, plans and prospects for the Company,
including potential clinical successes, anticipated regulatory
approvals and future product launches, and projected revenues,
margins, earnings and market shares. The statements made by the
Company are based upon management's current expectations and are
subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those described in the forward-
looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include market
conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control and the risk
factors and other cautionary statements described in the Company's
filings with the SEC, including those described in the Risk Factors
and Cautionary Statements sections of the Company's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 4, 2009. The Company
does not intend to update these statements and undertakes no duty to
any person to provide any such update under any circumstance.

Source: St. Jude Medical