Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Treatment of Auditory Hallucinations

The University of New South Wales

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Auditory Hallucinations

Treatments: Device: Transcranial magnetic stimulation; Device: Sham

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00763841

07019

Details and patient eligibility

About

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) involves the use of magnetic fields to non-invasively stimulate the brain. Studies overseas have suggested this may be an effective and safe treatment for auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia. This is a sham-controlled, double-blind trial of TMS stimulation for the treatment of auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia.

Enrollment: 18 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Over 18, with DSM-IV diagnosis of Schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations of clear external origins, refractory to pharmacotherapy and occurring at least 5 times per day.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects with contraindications to TMS (e.g. epilepsy, pacemaker) or those with an unacceptably high risk (e.g. suicide risk) will be excluded from the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

18 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

Stimulation will be given daily at a particular site for three days a week

Treatment:

Device: Transcranial magnetic stimulation

2

Sham Comparator group

Treatment:

Device: Sham