Ultrasis Plc Regulatory News (ULT)

24 Mar 2005 09:28

Ultrasis PLC24 March 2005 Ultrasis Plc ("Ultrasis" or "the Company") NICE RECOMMENDATION FOR 'BEATING THE BLUES' Beating the Blues, the flagship product of leading UK based interactivehealthcare company, Ultrasis plc, has been recommended for use as a proven, costeffective option for treatment of mild and moderate depression in an AppraisalConsultation Document produced by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence(NICE). The Consultation Document released this week, is the first published outcome ofthe NICE commission from The Department of Health and the National Assembly forWales, to review its 2002 appraisal of Computerised Cognitive Behaviour Therapy(CCBT) for the treatment of depression and anxiety. CCBT is a generic term thatis used to refer to a number of methods of delivering Cognitive BehaviourTherapy (CBT) via an interactive computer interface as an alternative totraditional face to face therapy. The findings presented in the Consultation Document are based on evidencesubmitted by Ultrasis and other companies, as well as views put forward byprofessional and patient/carer organisations. The document outlines theAppraisal Committee's preliminary recommendations for CCBT in the management ofdepression and anxiety in primary and secondary care. The interim appraisal hasbeen prepared for consultation with the formal consultees, with the finalpublication and recommendation to the NHS due for publication in July this year. Beating the Blues is a CCBT based package designed by Ultrasis for patients withanxiety and/or depression. It consists of a 15 minute introductory video andeight 1-hour interactive computer sessions. The sessions usually take place atweekly intervals and are completed in the routine care setting of a GP or otherprimary health care setting. Although two alternative products are mentioned, Beating the Blues, is the onlydepression treatment included in the consultation supported by publishedrandomised controlled trials evidence, suggesting that Beating the Blues is moreeffective than treatment as usual (TAU) in general practice. Additionally, Beating the Blues is also the only CCBT package with publishedevidence of improved cost-effectiveness compared to TAU. Further comparativeanalysis of cost-effectiveness, reported in the Appraisal Consultation Document,shows that Beating the Blues is by far the most cost-effective of the competingproducts. The consultation document presents proposals for the CCBT implementation andaudit based on the preliminary recommendations and states that NHS organisationsoffering treatment for people with depression and anxiety and GeneralPractitioners should review their current practice and policies to take intoaccount the guidance. The report suggests that all people seen with mild ormoderate depression should be offered CCBT treatment. Commenting on the Appraisal Consultation Document, Ultrasis plc CEO Graham Lewissaid, "Whilst we recognise that the recommendations are preliminary and maychange after consultation, we welcome the very positive statements made by NICEboth on the validity of Computerised Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CCBT) as aform of treatment for depression and anxiety and the success of Beating theBlues in published randomised controlled trials". For full details of the Appraisal Document visit www.nice.org.uk ENDS Notes for Editors 1. The Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales have asked theNational Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct anappraisal of computerised cognitive behaviour therapy for depression and anxietyand provide guidance on its use to the NHS in England and Wales. The AppraisalCommittee has had its first meeting to consider both the evidence submitted andthe views put forward by the representatives nominated for this appraisal byprofessional organisations and patient/carer and service user organisations. TheCommittee has developed preliminary recommendations on the use of computerisedcognitive behaviour therapy for depression and anxiety. 2. "Beating the Blues", has been clinically proven in Randomised Control Trials.The results of these trials were recently published in the July edition of theBritish Journal of Psychiatry (Proudfoot et al., British Journal of Psychiatry,2004, Volume 185, pages 46 to 54). This product is available to healthcare professionals to provide their patientswith a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy service and is currently in use in over 150places including primary care practices, secondary care units, prisons andoccupational health departments. A copy of this press release is available for download at http://www.nyans.co.uk/mediacentre/New%20Client/ultrasis.html For further information about Ultrasis, contact Dr Charlie Martin or Mr GrahamLewis on telephone +44 (0)20 7566 3900 or email to info@ultrasis.com Media enquiries Asa Walker, Nyans CommunicationsTel 01564 777 231Fax: 01564 778 080Email asa@nyans.co.ukWeb www.nyans.co.uk Please note that it is Ultrasis' policy not to pay for colour separations. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange