Interventional Psychiatry (IPSY) Track

The division of Interventional Psychiatry at the University of Iowa has robust clinical and research programs involving different treatment modalities. Clinically, we have an active Electroconvulsive Treatment (ECT) service performing over 2,000 treatments each year. Our Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) program administers treatment for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and also performs navigated TMS for pre-surgical mapping. Trainees can receive exposure to a variety of TMS stimulators and neuronavigation equipment from different manufacturers (Magventure, Magstim, Nexstim, Localite, Brainsight, and other). We have active and growing intranasal esketamine and intravenous ketamine services. In addition, we are the only site in the state of Iowa and one of few in the Midwest region with an interdisciplinary team capable of managing patients with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for treatment of OCD and Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of refractory depression.

Roughly half of our IPSY faculty are research/tenure-track faculty and we have active research programs involving TMS, ECT, DBS and esketamine. We are involved in the GenECT study and have been identified as one of four sites in the U.S. to recruit subjects for an inpatient accelerated intermittent theta-bust stimulation (aiTBS) trial. We also maintain a biomarker registry of patients who receive interventional treatments and have close collaborations with the departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, as well as the Iowa Neuroscience Institute.

The main objective of the IPSY track is to develop psychiatrists highly skilled in the assessment for and delivery of IPSY treatment modalities. Enrollment in this track provides opportunity for close mentorship with IPSY faculty as well as expanded exposure to the IPSY service. Residents’ experience will be tailored to their individual interests. For those interested in research, enrollment in the IPSY track may be combined with enrollment in the Physician Scientist Training Pathway.

For inquiry on the IPSY track, please contact Dr. Anthony Purgianto (anthony-purgianto@uiowa.edu).