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Effect of tDCS on Cognition, Symptoms in Chronic Schizophrenia Patients With Tardive Dyskinesia

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Tardive Dyskinesia
Interventions
Device: Active tDCS
Device: Sham tDCS
Registration Number
NCT03497013
Lead Sponsor
Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital
Brief Summary

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and cognitive function of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in chronic schizophrenia patients with tardive dyskinesia (TD).

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial. 60 patients with TD were randomly allocated to active (n=30) or sham tDCS groups (n=30). All patients received 2-mA anodal left/cathodal right prefrontal tDCS treatment (fifteen 30-minutes sessions: Monday to Friday once daily, every other week to do a group of treatment). Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale (AIMS), Tardive Dyskinesia Rating Scale (TDRS), Assessment of Negative Symptoms(SANS), the Positive and Negative symptom scale(PANSS), and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automatic Battery (CANTAB) were assessed in patients. All evaluations were scored at baseline, the end of 3rd weeks, 5th weeks, and 7th weeks. Side effects of tDCS were assessed with an experimenter-administered open-ended questionnaire during the whole experiment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
64
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Right-handed;
  2. meeting the diagnosis of schizophrania;
  3. had been receiving antipsychotic drugs for at least 12 months;
  4. at least one AIMS item rated(moderate) or at least two AIMS items rated ≥2(mild);
  5. All patients volunteered to participate in this study.
Exclusion Criteria
  1. organic disorder that could cause movement disorders, mental retardation,and a history of substance dependence(except nicotine);
  2. with serious physical illness(e.g.severe cardiovascular diseases);
  3. with color blindness/weakness, stuttering, deafness.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Active tDCSActive tDCSAll patients received 2-mA anodal left/cathodal right prefrontal tDCS treatment (fifteen 30-minutes sessions: Monday to Friday once daily, every other week to do a group of treatment).
Sham tDCSSham tDCSFor sham stimulation, the device was set to turn off after 30 seconds(study model).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Abnormal Involuntary Movements ScaleChange from baseline AIMS(items1-7) total scores at 3 weeks and 5 weeks and 7 weeks

The primary outcome measure was the severity of TD symptoms, which was measured by the AIMS total score(the sum of items 1-7).The range for subscale scores(items1-7) is between 0-28 scores and the higher values represent a worse outcome.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Positive and Negative symptom scaleChange from baseline PANSS total scores at 5 weeks

Psychopathology was measured by the total PANSS score and the positive, negative, and general psychopathology subscale scores. The range for PANSS total score is between 30-210 scores and the positive subscale scores are between 7-49 scores and the negative subscale scores are between 7-49 scores and the general psychopathology total scores are between 16-112 scores.

Scale for the Assessment of Negative SymptomsChange from baseline SANS total scores at 5 weeks

Negative symptoms were assessed with SANS. The range for SANS total scores is between 0-120 scores and the higher values represent a worse outcome.

Tardive Dyskinesia Rating ScaleChange from baseline TDRS total scores at 3 weeks and 5 weeks and 7 weeks

The severity of TD symptoms were also measured by the total TDRS score and the orofacial dyskinesia subscale scores, trunk and limb dyskinesia subscale scores. The range for TDRS total score is between 44-264 scores and the orofacial dyskinesia subscale scores are between16-96 scores , the trunk and limb dyskinesia subscale scores are between 24-144 scores.The higher values represent a worse outcome.

Safety and TolerabilitWe assessed the side affects during and after tDCS.

Side effects of tDCS were assessed with an experimenter-administered open-ended questionnaire during the whole experiment. The questionnaire contained rating scales regarding the presence and severity of headache, difficulties in concentrating, acute mood changes, visual perceptual changes and any discomforting sensation like pain, tingling, itching or burning under the electrodes.

Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automatic BatteryChange from baseline cognitive function at 3 weeks and 5 weeks and 7 weeks

Each patient was given a series of computerized tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. The language-independent tests and touch screen technology deliver rapid and non-invasive cognitive assessment. Executive and memory function were assessed with the following three tasks:The Pattern Recognition Memory (PRM), Intra/Extradimensional Set Shift (IED), and Spatial Working Memory.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital

🇨🇳

Suzhou, Jiangsu, China

Suzhou

🇨🇳

Suzhou, Jiangsu, China

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