PsychEd Episode 20: Understanding rTMS with Dr. Jonathan Downar

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners. This episode covers repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with Dr. Jonathan Downar, a world expert and leading researcher on rTMS, and clinical fellow Dr. Jean-Phillippe Miron. In addition to learning the basics about rTMS, you will also be listening to Henry Barron’s first-hand experience with non-therapeutic rTMS treatment to help bring some of the learning principles to life.

The learning objectives for this episode are as follows:

By the end of this episode, you should be able to…

1. Understand generally how rTMS is conducted and some of the theory behind how it works
2. Understand where rTMS fits in the treatment algorithm for depression and what kind of patient characteristics should be considered before initiating rTMS
3. Appreciate the benefits, side effects and drawbacks of rTMS and how it compares to other depression treatments

Guest staff psychiatrist: Dr. Jonathan Downar, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and Co-Director of the MRI-Guided rTMS Clinic at University Health Network.

CPA Note: The views expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Canadian Psychiatric Association.

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