Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Postpartum Depression

This study will evaluate the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to treat depression during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth. TMS is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses applied to the scalp to stimulate areas of the brain involved in depression. The main goal of the study is to determine whether TMS treatment is feasible, acceptable, and safe for women with perinatal depression. The study will also collect preliminary information about whether TMS reduces symptoms of depression and whether improvements are maintained after treatment.

Up to 100 women age 22 years and older who have major depression and are either 12 to 28 weeks pregnant or within 12 months after giving birth will participate. All participants will receive TMS; there is no placebo or comparison group. Participants will receive 20 to 36 TMS treatment sessions over approximately 4 to 8 weeks, with up to five sessions per week. Depression and other mental health symptoms, treatment attendance, satisfaction with treatment, and safety will be assessed before, during, and approximately one month after TMS treatment.

The study hypothesis is that TMS will be a feasible and acceptable treatment for women with perinatal depression, as shown by participants completing and adhering to treatment, acceptable treatment satisfaction, and appropriate safety outcomes. The study will also explore whether depressive symptoms improve during TMS treatment and whether improvement is sustained one month after treatment. For women who participate while pregnant, the study team will review maternal and infant medical records approximately six months after delivery to assess pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and infant health outcomes.