A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Trial of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia
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Purpose
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.
| Condition | Intervention |
|---|---|
|
Schizophrenia |
Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Device: sham TMS |
| Study Type: | Interventional |
| Study Design: | Allocation: Randomized Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Outcomes Assessor) Primary Purpose: Treatment |
| Official Title: | A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Trial of Repetitive Transcranial Magentic Stimulation (rTMS) in the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia and Related Disorders |
- Scale for the Asessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) [ Time Frame: 3 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms [SANS]. This is a semi structured interview. Assessments are conducted on a six-point scale (0=not at all to 5=severe)with a total score range of 0-70. A score of >50 is considered to be a moderate-severe intensity.
| Enrollment: | 22 |
| Study Start Date: | August 2002 |
| Study Completion Date: | July 2007 |
| Primary Completion Date: | July 2007 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) |
| Arms | Assigned Interventions |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Active Treatment
Bilateral high frequency (10 Hertz) rTMS
|
Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Participants were sequentially randomly assigned to either 15 active bilateral treatments or 15 sham bilateral treatments that were administered on a daily basis, five days per week.
|
|
Sham Comparator: Sham rTMS
Bilateral Sham rTMS
|
Device: sham TMS |
Detailed 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
Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
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
Contacts and Locations| Australia, Victoria | |
| Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre | |
| Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3181 | |
| Principal Investigator: | Paul B Fitzgerald, MBBS, PhD | Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre |
More Information
No publications provided
| Responsible Party: | Assoc Professor Paul Fitzgerald, Professor, The Alfred |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00168311 History of Changes |
| Other Study ID Numbers: | 81/02 |
| Study First Received: | September 14, 2005 |
| Results First Received: | June 15, 2010 |
| Last Updated: | April 15, 2012 |
| Health Authority: | Australia: Department of Health and Ageing Therapeutic Goods Administration |
Keywords provided by The Alfred:
|
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Schizophrenia Negative Symptoms |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|
Schizophrenia Schizophrenia and Disorders with Psychotic Features Mental Disorders |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 19, 2013