The latest developments in brain stimulation techniques in the treatment of
mental illness

    
                           International conference
     Thursday and Friday, October 7 and 8, 2010 at the Douglas Institute
    

MONTREAL, Oct. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - Thirteen national and international experts in the field of Brain Stimulation in Psychiatry and Neurology will meet October 7 and 8 during a conference held at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute. They will present research findings and ground-breaking clinical applications concerning the use of brain stimulation techniques. New treatments still under development, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, will also be discussed. Close to 150 participants are expected to take part in this conference.

Emerging research and treatment approaches

These non-invasive neuromodulatory techniques could revolutionize the treatment of mental illnesses such as bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and depression. Many research projects are underway in this area in Europe and North America, some of which are exclusive to the Douglas Institute's Research Centre.

"We are delighted and honoured to welcome, among others, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, M.D., Ph.D., professor at Harvard Medical School and Mark S. George, MD and researcher at the University of South Carolina, who are pioneers in this emerging field," stated Martin Lepage, PhD, Director of the Brain Imaging Centre and one of the conference organizers. "From now on we can measure the effectiveness of these techniques not only through clinical observation of symptoms but also through the use of brain imaging," he added.

Douglas Institute: hosting and leading

"This conference is very timely for the Douglas. We have only recently signed international agreements to conduct studies on transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess its use in the treatment of patients suffering from major depression." explains Marcelo T. Berlim, MD, MSc, psychiatrist at the Douglas and assistant professor at McGill University, who has been leading this new treatment at the Douglas since 2008. He is also responsible for developing research protocols, supervising the technicians who administer the treatment and assessing the patients referred to him.

    
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    Please note: On Friday, October 8, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., there will be
    an opportunity to observe these brain stimulation techniques during
    practical workshops given by leading experts in the field.
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The conference is organized jointly by the Brain Imaging Centre and Neuromodulation Program of the Douglas Institute and the Department of Psychiatry, McGill University. Members of the organizing committee: Martin Lepage, PhD; Marcelo T. Berlim MD, MSc; Z. Jeff Daskalakis MD, PhD, FRCP; Hani Iskandar, MD and Elaine Mancina. This conference is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Magstim.

    
    What?
    2010 RABS Conference - Recent Advances in Brain Stimulation

    When?
    Thursday, October 7, and Friday, October 8, 2010

    Where?
    Douglas Hall, Douglas Institute, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard, Montreal

    Useful links

    Conference program
    http://www.douglas.qc.ca/events?date=2010-10-07

    Neuromodulation: a promising new approach
    http://www.douglas.qc.ca/info/neuromodulation?locale=fr

    Neuromodulation program at the Douglas Institute
    http://www.douglas.qc.ca/page/programme-neuromodulation?locale=en
    

The Douglas Institute Foundation is proud to support Martin Lepage, PhD, and his research in mental health. The Foundation thanks its donors and volunteers for their generosity and thoughtfulness. Together, we invest in healthy minds.

About the Douglas - www.douglas.qc.ca

The Douglas is a world-class institute affiliated with McGill University and the World Health Organization. Its mission is to treat people suffering from mental illness and offer them both hope and healing. The Institute's teams of specialists and researchers continually advance scientific knowledge, integrate it into patient care, and share it with the community to increase awareness and thus eliminate stigma around mental illness.

For further information: booking for interviews before and during the conference: Marie france Coutu, Media Relations, Tel: [phone], ext 2769, Cell: [phone], [email protected]