Method and system for treating depressive and anxiety disorders

Abstract

A method and system for treating depressive and anxiety disorders is disclosed. The method and system of the present invention comprises operating a programmable pump for the delivery of at least one therapeutic substance into the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient for the treatment of depressive or anxiety disorders. In an embodiment, a sensor implanted in a patient may be used in combination with the programmable pump and catheter.

1 . A method of using a corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist to treat a depressive or an anxiety disorder in a patient by means of a programmable pump and a catheter, the catheter having a proximal end coupled to the programmable pump and a distal end for infusing a corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist, the method comprising the steps of: 
 implanting the catheter so that the distal end of the catheter is located in cerebrospinal fluid of the patient;    operating the programmable pump to deliver a first rate of the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist into the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient to treat the depressive or the anxiety disorder; and    regulating the programmable pump to deliver a second rate of the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist in order to treat the depressive or the anxiety disorder.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of implanting the catheter is performed after the depressive or the anxiety disorder is diagnosed.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the depressive disorder comprises bipolar disorder.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist comprises astressin.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist comprises D-pheCRF (12-41).  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist comprises alpha-helicalCRF (9-41).  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of regulating the programmable pump in response to a treatment plan comprises delivery of a third rate of the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist in order to treat the depressive or the anxiety disorder.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anxiety disorder comprises panic disorder.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anxiety disorder comprises obsessive compulsive disorder.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anxiety disorder comprises generalized anxiety disorder.  
   
   
       11 . A method of using a corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist to treat a depressive or an anxiety disorder in a patient by means of a programmable pump and a catheter, the catheter having a proximal end coupled to the programmable pump and a distal end for infusing a corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist, the method comprising the steps of: 
 implanting the catheter so that the distal end of the catheter is located in cerebrospinal fluid of the patient;    implanting a sensor for generating a sensor signal for detecting the extent of the depressive or the anxiety disorder in the patient;    operating the programmable pump to deliver a first rate of the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist into the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient; and    regulating the operation of the programmable pump in response to the sensor signal to deliver a second rate of the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist into the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient to treat the depressive or anxiety disorder.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the depressive disorder comprises refractory depression.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the depressive disorder comprises dysthymia.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist comprises astressin.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist comprises D-pheCRF (12-41).  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist comprises alpha-helicalCRF (9-41).  
   
   
       17 . A method of using a corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist to treat a depressive or an anxiety disorder in a patient by means of an implantable programmable pump and a catheter, the catheter having a proximal end coupled to the implantable programmable pump and a distal end for infusing a corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist, the method comprising the steps of: 
 implanting the catheter so that the distal end of the catheter is located in cerebrospinal fluid of the patient;    implanting a sensor for generating a sensor signal for detecting the extent of the depressive or the anxiety disorder in the patient;    operating the implantable programmable pump to deliver a first rate of the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist into the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient;    regulating the operation of the programmable pump in response to the sensor signal to deliver a second rate of the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist into the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient; and    wherein the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist is delivered intrathecally into the patinet's cerebrospinal fluid to treat the depressive or anxiety disorder..    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist comprises astressin.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist comprises D-pheCRF (12-41).  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist comprises alpha-helicalCRF (9-41).