CALM (Centre of Advanced Learning for Mood Disorder Management) is a specialist tertiary care service within Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT). Our service supports people with complex or treatment resistant mood presentations. We offer expert assessments to provide diagnostic clarification and further treatment recommendations, including access to a growing range of evidence-based novel treatments such as ketamine therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Our team also plays a key role in national and regional research into mood disorders and is part of an NIHR-funded Translational Research Centre of Excellence through the Mental Health Mission. As such patients may be invited to be part of a research study after their assessment.
What we offer
Our service is designed to support both patients and clinical teams by providing:
- Diagnosis Clarification
Evaluation and diagnostic advice for complex mood presentations including major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), and comorbid conditions. - Treatment Recommendations
Comprehensive assessments leading to treatment advice, including suggestions for non-formulary or experimental approaches. - Access to Novel Treatments
For individuals with treatment resistant depression, we can offer or advise on:- Intravenous ketamine therapy
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- Pharmacological augmentation strategies such as pramipexole or minocycline
We are working to bring other novel treatments such as psychedelic-assisted therapies (e.g. psilocybin) to the population we serve.
(Some treatments may be offered as part of clinical research protocols and require formal consent).
Care Pathway
Referrals must be made by a consultant psychiatrist and are welcome from all teams across the NHS Trust. We do not currently accept self-referrals.
Every referral will be carefully considered by the team, and suitable individuals accepted for an assessment by one of our consultants at an initial appointment.
Initial appointments outcomes may include:
- Appointment outcome letter with diagnosis or treatment recommendations back to the referrer
- Consideration for entry into a clinical or research treatment pathway such as that involving IV ketamine or rTMS
- Discussion of suitability for specific non-formulary treatments (following Trust protocols)
Our Research Involvement
We are proud to be a major element of the Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre, working to align clinical services with cutting edge research. Our collaborations with the University of Birmingham allow us to deliver innovative treatments in real-world settings, especially for those living with difficult to treat mood disorders.
We also contribute to national networks of specialist mood disorder clinics and take part in ongoing discussions to shape how advanced treatments are offered across the NHS.
Information for service users, carers, and visitors
The service is located at The Barberry, 25 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2FG. Please contact: 📧 bsmhft.specialistmooddisorderservice@nhs.net for further information.
Meet the Team
Our multidisciplinary team includes consultant psychiatrists, specialty trainee doctors, nurses, researchers and other mental health professionals with expertise in mood disorders, and experimental treatments.
Director:
Professor Steven Marwaha
Professor of Psychiatry and Consultant Psychiatrist
Consultant Psychiatrists:
Dr Dhruba Bagchi
Dr Tania Rodrigues
Research Nurses:
Susan Musa
Fabio Sequeira Bento
Melissa Thomas
Clinical Researchers:
Stephanie Fortier – Clinical Studies Officer
Gauri Sathe – Clinical Research Fellow
Clinical Assistants:
Mona Millward-Brookes
We also have a number of higher trainee resident doctors working with us.
Management Team
Dr Opeyemi Odejimi – Senior Programme and Operations Manager
Emeka Azumara – Project Manager
