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28 Oct 2009 12:09
Ultrasis plc ("Ultrasis" or "the Company")
NICE guidance recommends CCBT as a mainstream treatment of choice for treating depression
Ultrasis plc is pleased to announce that from today computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CCBT) has been recognised as a mainstream treatment of choice for mild and moderate depression in two newly released Depression Guidelines (for depression in adults and depression with a chronic physical health problem). These new guidelines replace the previous technical appraisal (TA097 - Feb 2006) on CCBT and become the authoritative documents on how people suffering with depression should be treated.
The Directors believe that this further recognition by NICE should help Ultrasis continue to grow the market in which "Beating the Blues" has already demonstrated its effectiveness.
Welcoming this announcement Nigel Brabbins CEO at Ultrasis said
"We have pioneered the use of computer delivered treatment for depression and invested significant resources in becoming the market leader, and this announcement vindicates all that we have done to date and opens up many new opportunities for the Company. We see this new guidance as confirmation that Beating the Blues has demonstrated both cost and clinical effectiveness and with more than 75% of Primary Care Trusts already using Beating the Blues to treat their patients we believe that it will encourage wider adoption to help increase patient choice and improve access to treatment."
Dr Charlie Martin, Clinical Director added
"The new NICE Guidelines have broadened the application of CCBT to include people with 'persistent sub threshold depressive symptoms' ( as well as those with mild and moderate depression) and also include treatment of depression in adults who have chronic physical health problems. This will significantly increase the numbers of people for which Beating the Blues is an appropriate treatment. There may be up to twice as many people with sub threshold depressive symptoms as there are people with mild and moderate depression and the prevalence of depression in people with a chronic physical health problem is also much higher ''. He added "We have significantly improved Beating the Blues since the original NICE Guidance was published in 2006, such as ensuring that it is encrypted to meet stringent NHS standards, and providing easy ways for the clinician to monitor patient progress. We also continue to gather evidence on the programme's benefits across a wide range of health needs and this includes people with physical health problems. We are confident that the track record of Beating the Blues will keep it the treatment of choice within the NHS."
Announcement of Preliminary Results
The Company intends to announce its full year results for the financial year to 31st July 2008, on Wednesday the 4th November.
For further information please contact:
Ultrasis plc
Nigel Brabbins, Chief Executive
+44 (0) 20 7566 3900
nbrabbins@ultrasis.com
Geoff Nash,
FinnCap
Nominated Advisor and Joint Broker
+44 (0) 207600 1658
John Webb,
Marshall Securities
Joint Broker
+44 (0) 207 490 3788
Media Enquiries
JBP
Karen White/Rebecca Hosgood
+44 (0) 117 9073400
karen@jbp.co.uk ; rebecca@jbp.co.uk
or visit:
www.ultrasis.com
www.getfitwellness.com
www.sodexoUSA.com
Notes to Editors
Ultrasis plc is a healthcare company with core expertise in health, psychology, software development and programme management. The Company delivers computerised healthcare products to the NHS, the corporate sector and other healthcare providers in the UK and internationally.
Ultrasis was the first company to offer computerised products based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and interactive multimedia, and is the world leader in this field. The products help people tackle stress, anxiety and depression, and a full spectrum of related conditions.
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