Study explores personalized brain stimulation for severe OCD and depression
National University Hospital and NUS Medicine are evaluating a new TMS approach that tailors magnetic pulse targeting to individual patient brain circuitry.
Researchers at National University Hospital (NUH) and NUS Medicine have released findings from a study using personalized transcranial magnetic stimulation (pTMS) to treat severe, treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The methodology utilizes functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a proprietary algorithm to map each patient’s unique brain circuitry, allowing for precision targeting that differs from standard uniform treatment protocols.
Two participants who completed a five-day intensive treatment course using robotic-navigated theta-burst stimulation reported significant symptom reduction. Unlike conventional TMS, which delivers pulses to the same brain region in all patients, this approach focuses on causal circuits previously identified as effective in surgical interventions. The process is also significantly faster, with sessions lasting approximately nine minutes compared to the traditional 37.5 minutes.
Led by Adjunct Associate Professor Tor Phern Chern and Associate Professor Thomas Yeo, the research team is expanding the scope of the project in October 2026 to include patients suffering from depression and anxiety. The study aims to provide clearer data on how neural circuit changes during treatment influence clinical outcomes.