Frontiers in psychiatry
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression in Singapore: a retrospective, naturalistic study
By Tay YH and Thng EWC.
Abstract
Introduction
Naturalistic repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) outcome data for treatment-resistant depression remain limited in Southeast Asia. This retrospective study describes such outcomes from a general hospital in Singapore.
Method
28 outpatients received rTMS (10Hz high-frequency or intermittent theta-burst) targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3 scalp position) between May 2022 and May 2025. Treatment-resistant depression was defined as failing ≥2 antidepressant classes for ≥6 weeks each. The primary outcome was change in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score; secondary outcomes included the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR16), the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), the Quality of Life, Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF), the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S), and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF).