On April 22, 2025, UTHealth Houston marks a significant milestone—the 10th anniversary of its pioneering Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) Program. Launched in 2015 within the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, the TRD Program has grown into a national leader in treating complex depressive disorders that don’t respond to conventional therapies.
Over the last decade, the program has continuously advanced the field of interventional psychiatry. By integrating compassionate, patient-centered care with groundbreaking technology, it has provided new hope to individuals living with the most severe forms of depression.
Among its most notable accomplishments is developing and implementing deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a therapeutic option for TRD. A long-term study led by Dr. Jair C. Soares, department chair and director of the Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, showed that patients receiving DBS targeting the superolateral branch of the medial forebrain bundle experienced rapid and sustained improvements in mood, some for as long as five years. These findings demonstrate the potential of DBS to transform the lives of patients who have exhausted all other options.
The program has also been at the forefront of other neuromodulation techniques, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), ketamine and esketamine therapy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Through national trials such as RECOVER, UTHealth researchers have shown just how severe the TRD population is, with many participants having failed more than a dozen prior antidepressant treatments and exhibiting high levels of suicidality. These insights are helping to reshape the clinical understanding and treatment of TRD nationwide.
In addition to clinical innovation, the TRD Program remains deeply committed to community outreach and education.
A significant recent milestone in the program’s educational mission is the launch of the Interventional Psychiatry Fellowship—a one-year, Texas Medical Board-accredited program designed to train the next generation of leaders in this emerging field. Fellows will gain hands-on experience with the full spectrum of interventional treatments, including DBS, TMS, VNS, ECT, and esketamine, under the guidance of UTHealth’s expert faculty. The inaugural class begins in July 2025, and applications are currently open for qualified candidates who have either completed an ACGME-accredited psychiatry residency or an equivalent international training.
To learn more about the fellowship, including application requirements, visit the Interventional Psychiatry Fellowship page.
As UTHealth Houston celebrates a decade of the TRD Program, the team remains focused on the future, with ambitious goals for expanding access, refining treatments, and improving patient outcomes. The 10th anniversary is more than a celebration of past achievements; it’s a renewed commitment to advancing care for those most in need.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit the UTHealth Houston Treatment-Resistant Depression Program.
Contact
Second Opinion Intake Form – https://Go.uth.edu/CIPIntake.
Phone – (713) 486-2621
Fax – (713) 500-2728
E-mail – [email protected]