The impact of the number of sessions on response to Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) therapy in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): a naturalistic study in a tertiary psychiatric hospital, Singapore
Applied/Translational Research
Care Process & Redesign
ACE Value-Based Healthcare Conference
National Healthcare Group
31 December 2024
Determine the optimal dosage of rTMS therapy for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in an Asian tertiary psychiatric hospital. rTMS is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for MDD, with better outcomes in those receiving more than 30 sessions.
Year Submitted: 2024
Published Date: 31 December 2024
Tags: Applied/Translational Research, Care Process ＆ Redesign, Quantitative Research, Quality Improvement, Clinical Practice Improvement, Value Based Care, Safe Care
About this Content
Aims
Determine the optimal dosage of rTMS therapy for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in an Asian tertiary psychiatric hospital and compare response rates between patients receiving ≤30 and >30 sessions.
Background
A standard rTMS treatment course in the USA consists of 30 sessions, but its applicability in Asia is unclear. This study aimed to establish an optimal dosage based on real-world clinical outcomes.
Methods
A retrospective study of 53 inpatient and outpatient cases between June 2018 and April 2023. Clinical outcomes were assessed using MADRS, CGI-S, and DASS-21 scales.
Results
Patients who received >30 sessions had better depressive symptom improvement than those who had ≤30 sessions. Remission rate was 17%, comparable to international studies, but response rate (20.8%) was lower due to treatment resistance factors.
Conclusion
rTMS is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for MDD, with better outcomes in those receiving more than 30 sessions. Further research is needed to refine dosage recommendations for Asian populations.
Lessons Learnt
Higher baseline symptom severity and prior electroconvulsive therapy exposure reduced response rates. Standardizing response definitions can improve treatment comparisons across studies.
Keywords
Major Depressive Disorder, Stimulation Therapy, Mental Health, Neuromodulation
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National Healthcare Group |
Organization(s) Involved | Institute of Mental Health |
Platform(s) | ACE Value-Based Healthcare Conference |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Allied Health, Medical |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Clinical Research, Neurology, Psychiatry |
Project Lead(s) | Ye Si Jia |
Project Member(s) | Lu Lin Shan |
Connect with this contributor!
Ye Si Jia - yesijia123@gmail.com