Men and depression, women and depression, it doesn’t matter. Depression crosses all genders, ethnic groups and economic classes. The Centers for Disease Control studied the importance of integrating the mind with the body in our healthcare system. It is a fabulous study. I want to share the key points as they affect every family, family member or loved one.

The separation of mental and physical health that exists in our health care and public health systems belies the fact that both exist within individuals in an exquisitely integrated fashion. This April issue of Preventing Chronic Disease explores that integration. Preventing Chronic Diseases is published by the government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC).

The definition of health provided by the constitution of World Health Organization is unambiguous in this regard: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (1). If we are to achieve this goal of complete well-being, we will have to bridge the chasms within our health care and public health systems.

“The Carter Center has undertaken these same strategies to address barriers to care among people with mental illness, many of whom have a chronic mental illness. An article on The Carter Center Mental Health Program (8) describes an impressive set of activities focused on reducing stigma and achieving parity in insurance coverage for mental illness. We would do well to form close collaborations with partners like The Carter Center and to join forces in developing policies and communication strategies that benefit both the mental and physical health of populations. We can claim success when the mental and physical components of our health care and public health systems are as integrated as they are in the people we serve.”

I concur 100% with this terrific article. After suffering from depression for 20 years and trying countless treatments, including ECT, it was vagus nerve stimulation that completely changed my life. Vagus nerve stimulation changed my life from one of utter despair to genuine happiness and joy. I am so grateful for this remarkable medical breakthrough. My body got better; lost 35 pounds, chronic pain diminished, cholesterol returned to normal and I have taken responsibility for my health-emotional and physical.

If you are suffering from chronic depression, you should discuss this new therapy with your doctor. Vagus nerve stimulation was just FDA approved, so the medical community is also learning about this treatment option.

Vagus nerve stimulation will be presented at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting in late May. The book I wrote Out of the Black Hole: The Patient’s Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression will be exhibited at this meeting, which is the largest gathering of psychiatrists in the world.

If you want to learn more about vagus nerve stimulation for depression, I would encourage you to visit http://www.VagusNerveStimulation.com web site. It could change your life or the life of a loved one.

Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. He was implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in April of 2001. He chronicles his journey from the grips of depression thanks to vagus nerve stimulation therapy in his book:

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient’s Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

His all inclusive book prepares depression sufferers to make an informed decision about this ninety-minute out-patient procedure. It is a “must read” before you discuss this treatment with your psychiatrist. A prescription for the procedure is required from an M.D. and it is covered by most insurance plans.

He is the founder of the http://www.VagusNerveStimulation.com Web Site and Bulletin.

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On Tuesday November 7th, The Cleveland Clinic, ranked as the third best hospital in America by U.S. News & World Report, published its list of the top ten medical breakthroughs impacting healthcare in 2007.

The list’s up-and-coming devices and therapies were selected by a panel of Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists.

Although we all think of a “top ten list” as a gimmick of comedian David Letterman, terms like “neurostimulation and “endografting” tells the reader that this a very serious list published by one of the prestigious healthcare institutions in the world. The list includes therapies for cancer, asthma, depression, heart failure, age-related macular degeneration, and vascular disease. But in David Letterman style here are the top ten medical innovations expected to have a major impact on our health in 2007:

The Cleveland Clinic’s List of Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2007

10. Convection-enhanced delivery of drugs: An emerging drug delivery method used to administer medication directly to the site where it is needed, without exposing the rest of the body to a drug’s effects.

9. Left Ventricular Assist System (LVAS): An implantable device that helps the left side of the heart push blood to the aorta, the body’s main blood vessel. The breakthrough is that the device also senses when to increase or decrease the rate of blood flow.

8. Targeted cancer therapies: Using cell growth inhibitors to treat cancers, such as renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer.

7. Endografting: A minimally invasive repair technique traditionally used in cardiology. It is now being used to treat vascular disease.

6. Ranibizumab: A drug therapy that inhibits uncontrolled blood vessel formation in the eye, which is the primary cause of age-related macular degeneration.

5. Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT): A therapy involving the controlled application of heat in the lungs to improve pulmonary function and curb asthma symptoms.

4. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): A noninvasive imaging technology used in the treatment and diagnosis of eye diseases.

3. Neurostimulation ( i.e. vagus nerve stimulation therapy) for Psychiatric Disorders: Implantable devices that apply electronics and engineering to the human nervous system to treat those with treatment resistant depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.

2. Designer Therapeutics Using Selective Receptor Antagonists: Designing therapeutics to block the peripheral side effects of opioids that are used for treating such health issues as pain.

1. Cancer Vaccines: Targeted therapies used to prevent cancer and treat patients according to the type of cancer they have.

I have personal experience with medical breakthrough number 3. For me personally, vagus nerve stimulation therapy ranks number ONE. It completely changed my life when everything else had failed. Fortunately, the manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator, Cyberonics Inc., has recently managed to get the first ever device approved for depression. The ninety-minute out-patient procedure can be prescribed by your doctor/psychiatrist.

Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. He was implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in April of 2001. He chronicles his journey from the grips of depression thanks to vagus nerve stimulation therapy in his book:

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient’s Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

His all inclusive book prepares depression sufferers to make an informed decision about this ninety-minute out-patient procedure. It is a “must read” before you discuss this treatment with your psychiatrist. A prescription for the procedure is required from an M.D. and it is covered by most insurance plans.

He is the founder of the http://www.VagusNerveStimulation.com Web Site and Bulletin.

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