{
  "abstract": "Major depressive disorder (MDD) remains a significant global health challenge, with substantial limitations inherent in current pharmacotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic approaches. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a safe, effective, and non-invasive neuromodulation therapy, particularly for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, conventional rTMS is limited by long treatment duration and variable interindividual efficacy. This expert opinion examines recent advances in rTMS optimization strategies aimed at overcoming these limitations. Key areas of progress include the development of novel stimulation protocols such as theta-burst stimulation (TBS); accelerated regimens and priming TMS; the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided TMS; and the integration of closed-loop systems using real-time electroencephalography (EEG) or functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) feedback. Additionally, technological innovations, including robot-assisted TMS and wearable devices, promise to enhance targeting accuracy and treatment accessibility. Despite these developments, significant challenges impede clinical translation, including the high cost of personalized protocols, insufficient standardization and validation of novel approaches, and technical barriers to closed-loop implementation. Future efforts should focus on cost reduction, large-scale randomized controlled trials, biomarker development, and device portability. Ultimately, optimized rTMS shows significant potential to become a more efficient, precise, and accessible cornerstone of depression therapy.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, 646000 Luzhou, Sichuan, China",
    "School of Mental Health, Southwest Medical University, 643020 Zigong, Sichuan, China",
    "Department of Psychiatry, Zigong Mental Health Center, 643020 Zigong, Sichuan, China",
    "Center for Psychiatry Research, Zigong Institute of Brain Science, 643020 Zigong, Sichuan, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "article commentary",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Wenzhong Liu",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-1907-3474"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yang Fan",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-8429-8581"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Pingping Ma",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7955-2689"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Ting Song",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-0131-6351"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Bo Liu",
      "orcid": "0009-0009-1797-1069"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Kezhi Liu",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4515-4209"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Youguo Tan",
      "orcid": "0009-0006-9279-2245"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bctq9zcnqn5an.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.31083/ap48750",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13731985/",
  "id": "bctq9zcnqn5an",
  "issns": [
    "2757-8038"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.31083/ap48750",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Expert Opinion"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2808|Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224888572",
  "pdf_url": "https://storage.imrpress.com/IMR/2095395860691001300/application/2757-8038-27-5-48750.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13731985",
  "pmid": "42985312",
  "published": "2026-09-03",
  "publisher": "IMR Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bctq9zcnqn5an.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-08T12:22:03Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13731985",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.31083/ap48750"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2808|Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies",
      "subfield": "neurology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Advancing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression: Novel Protocols, Precision Targeting, and Future Directions",
  "title_text": "Advancing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression: Novel Protocols, Precision Targeting, and Future Directions",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-08T12:22:03Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bctq9zcnqn5an",
  "venue": "Alpha Psychiatry",
  "versions": []
}