Precision Psychiatry: Mapping the Brain to Treat Mood Disorders

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has emerged as a vital intervention for mood disorders, offering hope where medication might fail. However, the efficacy of this treatment hinges on one critical factor: location. Recent advances in MRI-guided neuronavigation are transforming how clinicians target the brain circuits responsible for these conditions, moving from general approximations to personalised precision.

Traditional anatomical MRI provides a reliable structural map, acting as a sturdy foundation for positioning the stimulation coil. Yet, it lacks specificity regarding the functional networks actually driving the disorder. To bridge this gap, researchers are integrating functional MRI (fMRI) and connectivity-based methods. These techniques identify patient-specific neural activity and connectivity patterns, allowing for highly individualised treatment plans that target disrupted networks rather than just anatomical landmarks.

While this approach significantly enhances spatial targeting accuracy and therapeutic outcomes, it is not without hurdles. The review highlights challenges such as image acquisition quality, co-registration accuracy, and the mitigation of imaging artefacts. Furthermore, fMRI remains vulnerable to variability. Despite these practical constraints, emerging tools promise to refine neuronavigation further. By overcoming current technological barriers, the field of interventional psychiatry is poised to foster wider clinical adoption, ultimately offering more effective, targeted relief for those suffering from mood disorders.