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A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Trial of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia

T

The Alfred

Status

Completed

Conditions

Schizophrenia

Treatments

Device: sham TMS
Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

Details and patient eligibility

About

There is pilot data to suggest the therapeutic value of rTMS applied to the left prefrontal cortex in the treatment of negative symptoms. Neuroimaging studies demonstrate abnormal activity in this region in patients experiencing negative symptoms. Finally rTMS applied at high frequency shows the capacity to up-regulate cortical activity in a way that would provide an explanation for a therapeutic response.

The study involves participants receiving 15 sessions of high frequency rTMS treatment applied bilaterally to the prefrontal cortex over a 3 week period or sham rTMS. Following this double blind phase, participants randomised to placebo treatment will be offered 15 sessions of active treatment.

In addition, ppTMS (paired pulse TMS) will be conducted prior to the onset of treatment and after completion of the course, as a means of measuring cortical inhibition and facilitation. NIRS (Near Infra red spectroscopy) will also be conducted prior to, during and after the first and last treatment sessions to allow monitoring of oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin.

Full description

The main outcome measure used is the SANS (Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms. This is a semi strucutured interview which provides scores from 0-70. This is administered at baseline, week 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Other outcome measures administered are (frequency mentioned above): PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) and the Calgery Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, A cognitive battery is also administered.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, age over 18
  • Persistent negative symptoms of moderate to severe intensity
  • Failure to respond to a minimum of two antipsychotic medications
  • No increase or initiation of new antipsychotic therapy in the four weeks prior to entering the trial Exclusion Criteria
  • Prominent positive symptoms
  • Have an unstable medical condition, neurological disorder or any history of seizure disorder or are currently pregnant or lactating
  • Previous brain injury or surgery, any metal clips, plates or other metal items in the head, cardiac pacemaker
  • Subjects at high risk of violence or suicide as determined by the investigator and treating clinicians
  • Substance dependence

Enrollment

22 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 70 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, age over 18
  • Persistent negative symptoms of moderate to severe intensity
  • Failure to respond to a minimum of two antipsychotic medications
  • No increase or initiation of new antipsychotic therapy in the four weeks prior to entering the trial

Exclusion criteria

  • Prominent positive symptoms
  • Have an unstable medical condition, neurological disorder or any history of seizure disorder or are currently pregnant or lactating
  • Previous brain injury or surgery, any metal clips, plates or other metal items in the head, cardiac pacemaker
  • Subjects at high risk of violence or suicide as determined by the investigator and treating clinicians
  • Substance dependence

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Double Blind

22 participants in 2 patient groups

Active Treatment
Experimental group
Description:
Bilateral high frequency (10 Hertz) rTMS
Treatment:
Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Sham rTMS
Sham Comparator group
Description:
Bilateral Sham rTMS
Treatment:
Device: sham TMS

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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