MALVERN, Pa., May 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- An unfortunate fact facing mothers in the U.S. is that postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbirth.1 Approximately 10 to 15 percent of women who give birth each year – or roughly 600,000 women – experience postpartum depression symptoms.2 Typically, pharmacotherapy is the recommended option to treat symptoms; however, the level of acceptance among new mothers willing to take antidepressants during the postpartum period is limited by maternal concerns, in particular, infant exposure through breastfeeding.
In evaluating an alternative, non-drug solution for these mothers, Neuronetics, Inc. presented positive results today from its study, "Effectiveness of NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder with Postpartum Onset," at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2016 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Study results demonstrated that for patients treated with NeuroStar TMS Therapy, 73.7 percent achieved remission of their depressive symptoms.
"Postpartum depression is a harsh reality that, sadly, many women face after giving birth," said David Brock, MD, Medical Director of Neuronetics, Inc. "Current treatment options present significant clinical and practical dilemmas for the patient and their clinician. The positive results from this study expand the evidence of potentially useful new approaches and suggest that NeuroStar TMS Therapy may provide a therapeutic option to mothers experiencing postpartum depression without the use of antidepressant medication."
In the study, 19 medication-free outpatients with unipolar non-psychotic MDD with postpartum onset, were enrolled. These patients had moderate to severe symptom severity with an onset of MDD symptoms during the third trimester through six months following live childbirth, and they were enrolled within nine months after childbirth. The patients received open label treatment with NeuroStar TMS Therapy for four to eight weeks, until remission of symptoms. The study's primary outcome of interest was the change in depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with patient-reported remission on the EPDS as a major secondary outcome measurement. The EPDS mean baseline score was 20.6 with a mean acute treatment score of 8.2 by the end of the study. Overall, 14 out of the 19 patients (73.7 percent) achieved remission of symptoms during acute treatment. There were no serious adverse events, treatment emergent mania or suicidal ideation reported.
About NeuroStar TMS Therapy
The NeuroStar TMS Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in adult patients who have failed to receive satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode.
The NeuroStar TMS Therapy System was initially FDA-cleared in 2008 on the basis of the largest randomized controlled trial evaluating TMS in depression. In a second independent randomized controlled trial, sponsored by the NIMH, patients treated with TMS using a clinical trial version of the NeuroStar TMS System were four times more likely to achieve remission compared to patients receiving sham treatment (P=0.0173, odds ratio=4.05). The most common side effect of NeuroStar TMS Therapy is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. It is contraindicated in patients with non-removable conductive metal in or near the head.
Over 270 million people in the U.S. have access to insurance covering NeuroStar TMS Therapy.
For full safety and prescribing information, visit www.NeuroStar.com.
Availability of NeuroStar TMS Therapy
Treatment with NeuroStar TMS Therapy is available at more than 725 treatment centers in 49 states. For information on specific treatment locations that offer NeuroStar TMS Therapy, please visit www.NeuroStar.com or call Neuronetics Customer Service Center at (877) 600-7555.
About Neuronetics, Inc.
Neuronetics, Inc., is a privately held medical device company focused on developing non-invasive therapies for psychiatric and neurological disorders using MRI-strength magnetic field pulses. Based in Malvern, PA, Neuronetics is the leader in the development of TMS Therapy®, a non-invasive form of neuromodulation. For more information, please visit www.neuronetics.com or www.neurostar.com.
NeuroStar®, NeuroStar TMS Therapy® and TMS Therapy® are registered trademarks of Neuronetics, Inc.
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1 Venis JA, McClosky S. Postpartum depression demystified: An essential guide for understanding and overcoming the most common complication after childbirth. New York: Marlowe and Company; 2007.
2 Brett, K. (2008). Prevalence of self-reported postpartum depressive symptoms [Abstract]. MMWR Weekly. Retrieved May 6, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5714a1.htm
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SOURCE Neuronetics, Inc.