Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42271344›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2026

Patient perspectives on barriers to rTMS for peripartum depression.

Huda F Al-Shamali, Rachael Dong, Margot Jackson, Lisa Burback, Gina Wong, Bo Cao, Xin-Min Li, Andrew J Greenshaw, Yanbo Zhang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Huda F Al-ShamaliDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada.
Rachael DongDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada.
Margot JacksonDepartment of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada.
Lisa BurbackDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada.
Gina WongFaculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Athabasca, AB, T9S 3A3, Canada.
Bo CaoDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada.
Xin-Min LiDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada.
Andrew J GreenshawDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada.
Yanbo ZhangDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada. yanbo9@ualberta.ca.

Funding

Start-up Fund from the University of Alberta RES0052505
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPeripartum depression (PPD) is often underdiagnosed and left untreated. PPD can negatively impact maternal health and child development and is associated with an increased risk of maternal suicide. Effective and safe treatments that are viewed as acceptable by patients are needed. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive neuromodulatory treatment that has the potential to meet this need.

methodsThe objective was to identify the level of awareness of rTMS among participants who experienced depressive symptoms during the peripartum period and to understand the barriers and facilitators that impact access to rTMS. Three focus groups with a total of 9 participants who experienced depressive symptoms during the peripartum period were conducted. A descriptive interpretive thematic analysis was completed.

resultsThe majority of participants (6 out of 9; 67%) never heard of rTMS prior to this study. Following a brief description of rTMS by the researcher, all participants expressed an interest in rTMS and a willingness to learn more about it as a treatment for PPD; however, some expressed reservations about receiving the treatment during pregnancy due to uncertainty regarding whether it could have an impact on their child's well-being. The following four themes were identified as the primary factors that impact access to rTMS: limited awareness of rTMS's existence, financial challenges, physical accessibility, and weighing the pros and cons of medication vs. rTMS.

conclusionsIncreasing the general public's and their health providers' awareness regarding rTMS and other novel treatments is a crucial step toward improving access to care. Greater awareness of rTMS for PPD may support earlier recognition of appropriate candidates, improve referral pathways, and reduce barriers related to knowledge, accessibility, and treatment hesitancy. Further research is needed to continue evaluating the safety, effectiveness, and accessibility of rTMS for PPD.

Indexed as

Depression, PostpartumHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth Services AccessibilityPeripartum PeriodTranscranial Magnetic StimulationAdultFemaleFocus GroupsHumansPregnancyYoung AdultAccessEducationNeuromodulationPeripartum depressionPostpartum depressionRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Identifiers

PMID42271344
PMCPMC13479413

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.