SAN FRANCISCO, May 21, 2013 – New data released today at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association show that the NeuroStar TMS Therapy System® induced statistically and clinically meaningful response and remission in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) during the acute phase of therapy, which were maintained through one year of treatment. At the end of acute treatment, 62 percent of patients achieved symptomatic improvement while 41 percent reported complete remission. At 12 months, 68 percent of patients achieved symptomatic improvement while 45 percent reported complete remission. Maintenance of benefit was observed under a pragmatic regimen of continuation antidepressant medication and access to TMS reintroduction for symptom recurrence.
"The durability of NeuroStar TMS Therapy demonstrated by this robust, real-world study is remarkable, as it's not typical to see long-term benefit in patients who have treatment resistant forms of depression," said Dr. Philip Janicak, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry at Rush University, and Medical Director of the Rush Psychiatric Clinical Research Center. "The study reinforces the sustained efficacy of NeuroStar TMS Therapy in a majority of patients with depression who have not found relief through oral antidepressant medication."
With 42 clinical practices participating, 307 patients with a primary diagnosis of unipolar, non-psychotic major depressive disorder, who had failed to receive benefit from prior antidepressant medication, received NeuroStar TMS Therapy.
The objectives of this study were to assess the change in depressive symptomatology and functional capacities across the duration of acute and long-term follow-up treatment with NeuroStar TMS. Of the patient population, 257 patients received benefit with acute TMS treatment, then were tapered from their acute treatment regimen and consented to long-term observation over 52 weeks.
Clinical assessments were based on data obtained at three, six, nine and twelve months using the clinician-rated Clinical Global Impression Severity of Illness (CGI-S), and the patient-rated Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (IDS-SR).
Neuronetics, Inc. is building upon the robust clinical profile of NeuroStar TMS Therapy System. Most recently, Neuronetics initiated an open-label study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the NeuroStar® in patients with MDD who are living with post-partum depression. In addition, Neuronetics is also conducting a randomized study on durability of TMS as a maintenance therapy.
Source: Tonic Life Communications USA