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Dr. Saurabh Kumar
- AIIMS New Delhi - MD Psychiatry
- 15+ Years Experience
- rTMS & tDCS Specialist
- 60+ Publications, 600+ Citations
About
Interventional Psychiatry, Delivered With AIIMS-Level Rigour
Dr. Saurabh Kumar is a Consultant Neuropsychiatrist in Patna and the founder of Healthy Minds India. Trained at AIIMS, New Delhi - one of India's most competitive medical institutions - he brings a combination rarely found together in Bihar: academic credibility built on 15+ years of clinical practice and 60+ research publications, paired with hands-on expertise in interventional psychiatry.
His clinical focus goes beyond conventional psychopharmacology. Where medication alone hasn't been enough, Dr. Kumar offers rTMS (repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and tDCS (transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) - non-invasive, evidence-based neuromodulation therapies that are still uncommon outside major metro cities. Healthy Minds India owns its own rTMS and tDCS equipment, allowing these therapies to be delivered on-site as part of a structured treatment plan rather than a referral elsewhere.
This is deliberate positioning: not the highest patient volume, but the highest standard of evidence-based care, cutting-edge psychiatry aimed at superior, measurable patient outcomes.
For patients travelling from smaller towns across Bihar, this often means access to a level of psychiatric care previously available only in Delhi or other metro centres - without needing to leave the state for a specialist opinion, a treatment-resistant case review, or a course of rTMS.
The flagship approach
One of the Few Providers of rTMS & tDCS in Patna
Used for
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Panic disorder
- Migraine
- Tic and Tourette disorders
Interventional psychiatry - treatment that goes beyond pills - is rare in Bihar. Dr. Kumar is among a small number of specialists in the region offering rTMS, a non-invasive brain stimulation therapy.
Because rTMS uses magnetic pulses rather than medication, it's typically well tolerated, with minimal systemic side effects compared to adding another drug to a patient's regimen - making it a meaningful option for patients whose symptoms haven't fully responded to standard treatment, or who want to reduce their reliance on medication.
tDCS, a complementary neuromodulation technique, is also offered for patients who may benefit from a gentler, low-intensity stimulation approach.
Both therapies reflect Dr. Kumar's broader clinical philosophy: where evidence supports going beyond a prescription pad, the treatment plan should go there too - carefully, and under close clinical supervision.
Every course of rTMS or tDCS begins with a full psychiatric evaluation, not a standardised protocol. Dr. Kumar reviews prior treatment history, current medications, and diagnostic clarity before recommending neuromodulation - ensuring it's used where the evidence supports it, not as a default add-on to every consultation.
Research-driven practice
Your Care, Informed by Published Research
Dr. Kumar is an active researcher as well as a treating clinician - so treatment recommendations reflect current international evidence, not routine alone.
His research centres on rTMS and related interventional psychiatry, alongside mood disorders, addiction, and public mental health - the same areas that define his clinical practice today.
Anil Malhotra Award (2017) - Indian Association for Social Psychiatry, for contributions to psychiatric research and practice.
Why patients choose Dr. Kumar
Evidence-Based Innovation, Delivered With Compassion
Advanced brain stimulation
One of the few providers of rTMS & tDCS in Patna, offering medication-sparing options for treatment-resistant cases.
De-addiction expertise
Trained as Senior Registrar at the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS - a WHO-affiliated centre - for alcohol, opioid, tobacco, and behavioural addictions.
Research-informed care
60+ publications and 600+ citations mean every treatment plan is shaped by current evidence, not just convention.
A personalised, unhurried approach
Every plan addresses the biological, psychological, and social dimensions of a condition - never a diagnosis code and a default prescription.
Career journey
From AIIMS to Bihar
Dr. Kumar trained at Maulana Azad Medical College before completing his MD in Psychiatry at AIIMS, New Delhi, followed by three years of senior residency across AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital. During this period, he also completed a Senior Research Fellowship with the University of Warwick, UK, and served as Senior Registrar at the WHO-affiliated NDDTC, specialising in de-addiction care.
After posts as Assistant Professor at Safdarjung, RML Hospital, and PMCH Patna, he returned to Bihar to lead the Department of Psychiatry as Associate Professor & Head at R.D.J.M. Medical College, Turki, Muzaffarpur - while founding Healthy Minds India in Patna.
Additional qualifications
Training That Deepens Everyday Care
Beyond AIIMS psychiatry, Dr. Kumar holds additional certifications that shape his approach to complex cases:
Medical Neuroscience - Duke University, USA
Strengthens brain-based assessment and rational use of neuromodulation like rTMS and tDCS.
Sleep Medicine - University of Michigan, USA
Insight into insomnia, disturbed sleep, and circadian issues common alongside anxiety and depression.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Certified practitioner.
Diploma in Child Psychology - UK
Adds depth to care for children, adolescents, and families.
Managing ADHD, Autism, Learning Disabilities - University of Colorado
Certificate course on managing ADHD, autism and learning disabilities. Adds depth to the care of children, adolescents and families with neurodevelopmental concerns.
Providing Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Special Education Services in Schools - University of Colorado
Certificate course on delivering social, emotional, behavioural and special education services in school settings. Helps when working with schools on support for students.
Conditions treated
Conditions Dr. Kumar Treats in Patna
Depression & treatment-resistant depression
Including cases considered for rTMS when medication alone hasn't worked.
Anxiety & panic disorders
Evidence-based management for generalized anxiety and panic attacks.
OCD & related disorders
Combining medication, therapy, and neuromodulation where appropriate.
Bipolar disorder & mood instability
Long-term, research-informed mood stabilization.
Migraine & tic/Tourette disorders
Among the newer applications of rTMS in his practice.
Alcohol, opioid & tobacco de-addiction
WHO-affiliated training in relapse prevention and dual-diagnosis care.
Sleep problems & insomnia
Informed by certified sleep neurobiology training.
Child & adolescent concerns
Behavioural, emotional, and developmental care.
FAQ
rTMS (repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) is a non-invasive therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain regions involved in mood regulation. Dr. Kumar uses it primarily for treatment-resistant depression, OCD, panic disorder, migraine, and tic disorders.
rTMS is generally well tolerated and does not require anaesthesia. Most patients experience minimal side effects, such as mild scalp discomfort during sessions, and can resume normal activities immediately afterward.
Patients whose depression, OCD, or related symptoms haven't fully improved with medication are often good candidates. Dr. Kumar evaluates each case individually before recommending neuromodulation therapy.
Treatment courses vary by condition and patient response, and are determined after an individual assessment with Dr. Kumar - there is no fixed number of sessions for all patients.
Yes. He trained as Senior Registrar at NDDTC, a WHO-affiliated de-addiction centre at AIIMS, and treats alcohol, opioid, tobacco, and behavioural addictions.
Yes. With a Diploma in Child Psychology from the UK, he provides care for children, adolescents, and families facing behavioural, emotional, or developmental concerns. He also holds University of Colorado certificates in managing ADHD, autism and learning disabilities and in providing social, emotional, behavioural and special education services in schools.
His practice combines AIIMS-level academic training with interventional psychiatry - rTMS and tDCS - offered on-site, rather than medication alone or a referral elsewhere.
No. Dr. Kumar offers medication-sparing options such as rTMS and tDCS for patients who prefer, or clinically need, alternatives to standard pharmacological treatment.
He holds an MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College and an MD in Psychiatry from AIIMS, New Delhi, with further training at Duke University (medical neuroscience) and the University of Michigan (sleep medicine), and certificates from the University of Colorado in managing ADHD, autism and learning disabilities and in providing social, emotional, behavioural and special education services in schools.
You can book directly through the "Book a Consultation" button on this page, or contact Healthy Minds India by phone or WhatsApp - no referral is required.
Considering rTMS, tDCS, or a Second Opinion on Treatment-Resistant Symptoms?
Dr. Saurabh Kumar brings AIIMS-level psychiatric training, interventional neuromodulation, and research-informed treatment together at Healthy Minds India, Patna.