Dr Roger Ho completed his medical degree (MBBS) and higher research degree (MD) at University of Hong Kong and did his basic and advanced Psychiatry training at National University of Singapore. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK) and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Canada) and Academy of Medicine (Singapore).
He currently works as Associate Professor and Consultant Psychiatrist at the Department of Psychological Medicine, NUS. He is the Research Director oversees research and publication of the Department. He promotes the highest standard in psychiatric service, teaching and research, both in Singapore and internationally.
His clinical expertise covers all aspects of adult psychiatry, such as depressive disorder, bipolar depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. He also provides services to the elderly who prefer to speak Cantonese. As a specialist, he is an advocate for combining psychotropic drugs and psychotherapy as holistic treatment. He has an extensive network in referring patients to various psychotherapy services in Singapore.
Dr Ho is involved in multiple research endeavours, which primarily aim to study the interface between psychiatry and medicine. His earlier research involved elucidating psychiatric symptoms associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. He also serves as a Clinical Lead in the Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Group, Institute of Health and Technology (iHeathtech) at National University of Singapore. His recent research extended to study the effects of antidepressants on the immune system in animal, as well as the application of technology in clinical services and research, including mobile/electronic health and functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). He also continues to be involved in publications related to his earlier research interests. He is one of the pioneer researchers who published papers related to mental health during the early stage of COVID-19 pandemic. He is the author or co-author of more than 300 articles published in peer-reviewed journals and 6 books published by prestigious publishers including Hodder Arnold (UK) and Taylor and Francis (US). He is an editorial board member on various prestigious international journals.
Dr Ho is extensively involved in medical education. He disseminated psychiatric knowledge through publications of academic books with global influence. The most recent example is the co-authorship and publication of a postgraduate textbook, Revision Notes in Psychiatry (3rd edition), CRC Press 2013 and this book has been one of the most commonly used reference texts since 1998 by psychiatric trainees in Commonwealth countries. He has consistently received several teaching awards such as the NUHS Teaching Excellence Award in 2017 and the Annual Outstanding Tutor Award (2011 – 2019).
Professional Education
MBBS, University of Hong Kong
MD, University of Hong Kong
Diploma of Psychological Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland
Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy, National University of Singapore
MMed in Psychiatry, National University of Singapore
Diploma of Clinical Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland
Fellow, Royal College of Psychiatrists, United Kingdom
Fellow, Royal College of Physicians, Canada
1. Y Lu, CS Ho, RS McIntyre, W Wang, RC Ho. Effects of vortioxetine and fluoxetine on the level of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factors (BDNF) in the hippocampus of chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depressive rats. Brain Research Bulletin 2018; 142:1-7. [IF – 3.440]
2. Y Lu, CS Ho, RS McIntyre, W Wang, RC Ho. Agomelatine-induced modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the rat hippocampus. Life Sciences 2018; 210:177-184. [IF – 3.647]
3. SF Husain, R Yu, TB Tang, WW Tam, B Tran, TT Quek, SH Hwang, CW Chang, CS Ho, RC Ho. Validating a functional near-infrared spectroscopy diagnostic paradigm for Major Depressive Disorder. Scientific Reports 2020; 10(1): 9740. [IF – 3.998]
4. SF Husain, SK Ong, L Cuizhen, B Tran, RC Ho, CS Ho. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy during a decision-making task in patients with major depressive disorder. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2020. PMID: 33300367. [IF 4.657]
5. SF Husain, TB Tang, R Yu, WW Tam, B Tran, TT Quek, SH Hwang, CW Chang, CS Ho, RC Ho. Cortical haemodynamic response measured by functional near infrared spectroscopy during a verbal fluency task in patients with major depression and borderline personality disorder. EBioMedicine. 2020; 51:102586. [IF 5.736]