rTMS

Approved by Health Canada for treating depression in 2002, repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) can help normalize brainwave activity, without medications' side effects. It may be particularly helpful for treatment-resistant depression, or in case of medication intolerance. A full course of rTMS costs $3,000 to $12,000 in clinics across Canada and the US where it is not covered, but as of October 2023, rTMS at BrainWave is covered for Manitoba residents (with an active health card). 

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rTMS uses magnetic pulses, created by a coil placed over the head, to stimulate brain networks that are under or overactive in people with depression. The full therapy consists of 20-30 treatment sessions administered daily for multiple consecutive days, with each session typically lasting 5-15 minutes. Patients may feel a tingling or tapping sensation on their heads during the session. Responders to rTMS describe improvements in mood, anxiety (particularly when it is secondary to depression), energy, concentration and/or sleep.

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Since 2013, Dr. Modirrousta (a Harvard-trained Neuro-Psychiatrist) has used rTMS to treat several hundred patients with depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions. rTMS has also been a focus of Dr. Modirrousta's research (click here to view Dr. Modirrousta’s rTMS-related publications). In 2016, Dr. Modirrousta co-authored the “Neurostimulation Treatments” section of the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments' (CANMAT) clinical guidelines for the management of adults with major depressive disorder.