A new psychiatric treatment that offers precise, non-surgical brain stimulation is now available at the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore, potentially marking the first service of its kind in Southeast Asia. The therapy, known as personalised transcranial magnetic stimulation (pTMS), leverages functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) combined with artificial intelligence algorithms to map brain circuits at a millimetre scale. This allows targeted magnetic pulses to be delivered directly to the neural networks implicated in mental health disorders.
NUH began offering pTMS in early 2026 for patients with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, with plans to expand the service to other public hospitals in Singapore. The treatment is also available at the private Alvernia Psychological Health Centre. Currently, pTMS is not subsidised, and patients must pay approximately S$15,000 for the sessions. Several patients have undergone the therapy, including international cases from Hong Kong and Bangladesh.
While standard transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been used in Singapore for over a decade to treat depression and, more recently, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), it relies on fixed brain targets without individualized brain mapping. Studies have shown standard TMS to have a moderate response rate, with one Institute of Mental Health (IMH) evaluation of 58 patients registering a 21% response and 17% remission rate for treatment-resistant depression. A separate report from Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) indicated higher effectiveness, with response and remission rates of 68% and 57%, respectively, among outpatients treated with standard TMS.
In contrast, early research into pTMS shows promising results. A study conducted at IMH noted that 70% of the 21 participants with treatment-resistant depression responded within one month of receiving pTMS. NUH researchers have also applied pTMS on a case-by-case basis to patients with severe OCD who have not responded to conventional therapies, including medication and cognitive behavioural therapy.
One notable case involves a 49-year-old woman, Chen, who has struggled with debilitating OCD for around 20 years. Her compulsions, manifesting as intense mental rituals rather than overt physical behaviours, severely impacted her daily life and work. After participating in a pTMS trial led by NUH senior consultant Tor Phern Chen, she experienced a 35% reduction in symptom severity within one month. The treatment involved 40 sessions over five days, followed by booster sessions, each lasting approximately nine minutes.
Researchers collaborated to identify the specific brain circuits associated with Chen’s symptoms using brain imaging and computational modelling. Tor noted significant improvements in her ability to recognise and understand her compulsions, describing it as “waking up from a dream.” Another participant in the trial reported even greater symptom reduction, with scores falling by 78% after treatment and 100% six weeks later.
The pTMS technique targets brain areas usually reached only through invasive deep brain stimulation, which requires surgery. Given the risks and hesitancy associated with surgical options, pTMS offers a non-invasive alternative for patients with few other avenues.
NUH and the Alvernia Psychological Health Centre are working with BNeuro, a spin-off from the National University of Singapore (NUS), which developed the advanced brain-mapping algorithms critical to pTMS treatment. BNeuro handles the complex brain circuit analyses and is exploring further collaborations across the region.
Plans are underway to introduce pTMS to other public healthcare institutions such as IMH, Sengkang General Hospital, and KTPH, supported by a National Healthcare Innovation Centre grant. KTPH, which has treated patients with depression and OCD using standard TMS, aims to offer pTMS in the near future.
OCD remains a challenging condition to treat, as current medications—primarily serotonin reuptake inhibitors—do not work effectively for 40% to 60% of patients. For those who do not respond to medication or therapy, deep brain stimulation surgery is often the last resort. pTMS provides a potential new treatment option without the need for invasive procedures.
Chen, who continues to receive booster sessions, emphasised that while her symptoms have improved, managing her mental health is an ongoing process rather than a cure. She noted the importance of realistic expectations and support from family in her recovery journey.