Neuromodulator (rTMS) Program

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a Health Canada approved treatment for treatment resistant depression. It is a safe and non-invasive treatment that involves placing a magnetic coil on specific areas of the head to induce electrical currents on targeted areas of the brain involved in depression by emitting a pulsed magnetic field. The magnetic pulses can activate or inhibit cortical brain activity depending on the frequency of the magnetic stimulation applied. About half of the people with depression who have not responded to medications respond to rTMS treatment with clinically significant improvement in their depressive symptoms. The treatment length of our program is daily treatments for 6 consecutive weeks except on weekends and statutory holidays. In psychiatry, rTMS is increasingly being used in the treatment of depression and OCD. Researchers are looking at the benefits in treating other psychiatric conditions such as substance use disorders, PTSD, Bulimia nervosa/binge eating and anorexia nervosa.

The Edmonton zone community rTMS program is located downtown on the 3rd Floor 9942-108th Street Building. The mission is to deliver evidence-based management of treatment resistant depression using well validated and effective rTMS treatment protocols and to progressively consider rTMS treatment for various other psychiatric conditions using up to date evidence-based medicine and in accordance with the Provincial Guidelines.  The vision of the program is to continue providing excellent patient-focused community rTMS treatment to adult patients with treatment resistant depression in a quiet, calm, and friendly environment. Teenagers aged 17 to under 18 years would be considered in future.  Another vision is to create a sound clinical and academic environment where clinicians would develop world class rTMS teaching, training and innovative research programs to advance the course of the Division of Community Psychiatry and University of Alberta in becoming centers of excellence in the application of rTMS in treating psychiatric conditions through development of cutting edge research and application of research findings. The program recently developed a 3-day intensive interactive training program for clinicians who are interested in getting certification in rTMS for treating major depressive disorder.

The program collaborates with other programs within the division in developing research programs in line with the vision of the division and University of Alberta. The program has 10 psychiatrists and 3 nurses on staff and physicians from all specialities including primary care physicians can refer patients for rTMS treatments. Good candidates for treatment are adults aged 18 years and above with the primary diagnosis of unipolar or bipolar depression. The program will be considering referrals for patients aged 17 years to under 18 years in future.

Psychiatry and Family Medicine Residents and Medical Student can undertake elective placements and expect to learn about the science and art of TMS treatments for treatment resistant depression. There are also opportunities to participate in quality improvement projects and research activities using rTMS.