We are confident that this rescue process will continue to be available as a treatment option for patients with debilitating diseases, said APA President Carol Bernstein, MD ECT is appropriate for a small %age of patients, usually those serious mental illness disorders who have not responded to other treatments. If used properly, according to appropriate guidelines and well-trained psychiatrist, ECT is very safe and effective. There was a general consensus that ECT is effective for severe, large when other treatments do not succeed, which is consistent with recent randomized studies of large-scale NIMH-sponsored studies, said Dr. Lisanby. The provision for this treatment is vitally important for patients who suffer from severe depression that has not responded to other treatments.
The research presented in this article shows what we believe is the mechanism behind our treatments, said CEO Viral Genetics Haig Keledjian. Now we have a group of scientists to validate the results we have produced and reproduced in the laboratory. This article is the first in a series that Newell will be subject to a series of publications for review.
Sarah H. Lisanby, MD, president of the APA task force to review the practice of electroconvulsive therapy, said that the hearing panel discussion highlighted the high prevalence of major depressive disorder in the country and the suffering that this disease can cause, including the risk of suicide.
The panel was asked to inform the FDA whether to reclassify ECT devices from Class III to Class II is less restrictive for medical devices. As manufacturers of Class III devices would need to go through the approval process before marketing field.
Bernstein said the use of ECT should be a decision between the patient and the doctor fully informed.