Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Canada: A jurisdictional scan

Abstract

This communications release presents two complementary reports on Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for treatment‑resistant depression (TRD) in Canada. The first report, Evaluations of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment‑resistant depression: A scan of Canadian evidence, synthesises Canadian studies evaluating rTMS in real‑world clinical settings. The second report, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Canada: A jurisdictional scan, examines how rTMS is implemented across provinces, including service delivery, governance, funding, and eligibility criteria.

Together, these reports provide a comprehensive overview of both the clinical evidence and the system‑level context for rTMS in Canada. Findings highlight consistent evidence of effectiveness and tolerability, but also reveal variation in treatment protocols, service delivery models, and funding approaches. Both reports identify gaps in evaluation, monitoring, and standardisation, underscoring the need for further research and policy development to inform sustainable and equitable rTMS service delivery.