Cutting-Edge Therapies for Treatment-Resistant Depression & Other Mental Health Disorders
The Treatment-Resistant Mood Disorders (TRMD) Clinic is a referral-based service for patients with mood disorders that haven’t improved with first-line treatments, known as treatment-resistant mood disorders. You may be a candidate for the clinic if you have tried two or more medications and still have symptoms of a mood disorder that interfere with your daily life.
Candidate Criteria for the TRMD Clinic
Patients in the TRMD Clinic must have a diagnosis of a mood disorder that hasn’t improved despite trying two or more antidepressants and psychotherapy. Speak with your psychiatrist or other health care provider about a referral if you think you’re a candidate for the TRMD Clinic.
Why Choose the TRMD Clinic?
Our TRMD specialists at Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI) have decades of experience. The TRMD clinic is the only one in Utah that offers a full range of neurostimulation treatments for treatment-resistant mood disorders, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
We are one of the highest volume programs in the Mountain West region and continually offer new treatment options through clinical trials. We lead one of the largest ECT programs in the country, providing 6,000 to 7,000 treatments each year. Our TMS program is also among the busiest, providing more than 4,000 treatments annually.
Depression Center of Excellence
HMHI, together with the University of Utah Department of Psychiatry, is a designated Center of Excellence within the National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC). This prestigious designation, earned by meeting rigorous requirements, acknowledges our comprehensive expertise in providing innovative treatments and evidence-based care to patients with depression and bipolar disorders. And highlights our commitment to advancing scientific discovery of mood disorders through cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaborations.
The NNDC is a nonprofit network comprised of academic medical centers dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by depression and related mood disorders through large-scale collaborative studies, education, and outreach.
Mental Health Disorders We Treat
We specialize in mood disorders that haven’t improved with first-line treatments such as medication or psychotherapy:
Our team also evaluates some patients with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Treatments
Psychiatric Neurosurgery Program
We offer psychiatric neurosurgery treatments for select patients with treatment-resistant OCD in collaboration with the neurosurgery department at the University of Utah Health. Although the idea of neurosurgery may sound frightening, these procedures are minimally invasive and can be very effective for specific patients.
Some people with treatment-resistant OCD may be candidates for deep brain stimulation or laser interstitial thermal therapy (laser ablation). For treatment-resistant depression, some people may qualify for vagus nerve stimulation.
Find a TRMD Specialist
What to Expect During Your Clinic Evaluation
Before your first appointment with the TRMD Clinic, we will send you a questionnaire to fill out and request your referring provider's records of your previous treatments and health history.
Your initial evaluation with the TRMD Clinic will last around 90 to 120 minutes. One of our psychiatrists will review your entire psychiatric history with you:
- Medications you have tried and/or are currently taking
- Psychotherapy you’ve tried (if any)
- Treatments, if any, have been effective for you
- How long you’ve been in mental health treatment
Our team will then create a personalized treatment plan that will be most effective for you. We will help you understand your insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs before starting any treatment.
Refer a Patient for Evaluation
We offer comprehensive, evidence-based treatments to decrease your mental health condition symptoms and improve your quality of life. Refer a patient by filling out our referral form or learn more by calling 801-587-3297.
Meet Our Patients
Electroconvulsive Therapy: Life Changing Treatment for Patients Living with Severe Mental Illness
Cody Harris has suffered from severe depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder since he was seven years old. For nearly 30 years, he went through multiple medication adjustments, suicide attempts, and hospital stays. When effective treatment options seemed to be running out, Harris’ care team suggested electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), an outpatient medical procedure that treats mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and severe depression. Now, Harris finally feels better than ever.
Electroconvulsive Therapy Provides Hope for Husband and Father Struggling with Bipolar Disorder
Chris struggled with mixed bipolar disorder episodes—a dangerous mix of severe depression and mania that keeps him hyper-focused on thoughts of suicide. He tried numerous medications and lifestyle changes, but wasn't responding well to either. After his sixth attempted suicide, he was referred to the Treatment Resistant Mood Disorders Clinic and tried electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to stabilize his moods. ECT gave him the chance to be a dad and husband again.
Watch Miranda's Story
Miranda Riley was hospitalized for suicidal thoughts in 2021. When medication and therapy wasn’t working, Miranda’s therapist suggested electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The treatment ended up giving her the relief she needed. "Everybody has different results," Riley said. "But for me, it was absolutely life changing."
