Magnetic Stimulation as a Treatment for Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 4

Conditions: Schizophrenia

Treatments: Device: Paired Pulse

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00186771

TMS-2363

Details and patient eligibility

About

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. Auditory hallucinations are the most frequent symptoms with an incident of 50% to 70% in patients.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can significantly reduce symptoms of schizophrenia. TMS is capable of inducing changes in the electrical activities of the brain in humans.

The purpose of this trial is to study the use of TMS to decrease auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.

Full description

We hypothesize that: True treatment with rTMS will have significant decrease in auditory hallucinations versus sham treatment over the temporoparietal cortex.

FMRI will highlight areas of activation with auditory hallucinations distinct from the area identified by Hoffman's scalp based method.

Cortical inhibition as measured by paired pulse TMS will be increased after true TMS but not sham TMS.

Enrollment: 10 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Schizophrenia
• Auditory hallucinations occuring more than 5 times per day
• Adequate (6 weeks) trial of antipsychotic medication
• Including at least 1 atypical antipsychotic medication
• Medication stable for 4 weeks prior to commencement of the study
• Competent to consent

Exclusion criteria

• history of seizure disorder in patient or first degree relative
• recent head injury
• Acute suicidality
• Alcohol or substance abuse
• Implanted pacemaker or metal in head or neck
• Pregnancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

10 participants in 2 patient groups

True Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Active Comparator group

Description:

True treatment with TMS over the temporoparietal cortex.

Treatment:

Device: Paired Pulse

Device: Paired Pulse

Sham Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Sham treatment with rTMS over the temporoparietal cortex.

Treatment:

Device: Paired Pulse

Device: Paired Pulse