TMS Related Biomarker Assessments

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Schizophrenia Schizoaffective; Schizophrenia
• Interventions: Device: active rTMS first, then sham rTMS; Device: sham rTMS first, then active rTMS

• Registration Number: NCT05660018
• Lead Sponsor: University of Maryland, Baltimore

Brief Summary

Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) will be exposed to active and sham repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in separate sessions. SSD-related biomarkers will be assessed before and after the rTMS administration.

Detailed Description

Electrical neural oscillations of the brain can be measured at many levels, ranging from single cell to local field potentials in animals, to large-scale synchronized activities in the human scalp. New evidence suggests that there may be common underlying abnormalities in oscillatory activities that are associated with schizophrenia-related cognitive and functional impairments. There is currently no treatment for these electrical oscillation dysfunctions. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) provides a non-invasive means for altering brain electrical neural activity. TMS has been approved by FDA for the treatment of depression and many other mental disorders. It has been used in a wide range of clinical research, especially in neurology and psychiatry. The investigators aim to develop TMS paradigms that will modulate brain responses during basic sensory to more complex cognitive performance and determine the parameters in anatomic locations and TMS modalities that may effectively and safely modulate neural activities. If the current experiments successfully identified TMS methods/paradigms that improve neural oscillation and cognitive performances in schizophrenia patients, in the future (not part of the current protocol), the investigators can then develop specific TMS treatment that may correct abnormal brain function and improve cognition and clinical symptoms of schizophrenia.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-12-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-12-13
• Study First Posted: 2022-12-21
• Study Start: 2023-01-07
• Status Verified: 2023-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-03-30
• Last Update Posted: 2023-04-04
• Primary Completion: 2027-12
• Study Completion: 2028-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Male and Female between ages 18-65
• Ability to give written informed consent (age 18 or above)
• Diagnosed with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and Evaluation to Sign Consent (ESC) above10.

Read More

Exclusion Criteria

• Any history of seizures.
• Significant alcohol or other drug use (substance dependence within 6 months or substance abuse within 1 month) other than nicotine or marijuana dependence.
• Any major medical illnesses that may affect normal brain functioning. Examples of these conditions include, but not limited to, stroke, CNS infection or tumor, other significant brain neurological conditions.
• Taking > 400 mg clozapine/day
• Failed TMS screening questionnaire
• Cardiac pacemakers, implanted medication pumps, intracardiac lines, or acute, unstable cardiac disease, with intracranial implants (e.g. aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes) or any other metal object within or near the head, excluding the mouth, that cannot be safely removed.
• History of head injury with loss of consciousness over 10 minutes; history of brain surgery
• Can not refrain from using alcohol and/or marijuana 24 hours or more & cigarette smoking half and hour or more prior to experiments.
• Woman who is pregnant (child-bearing potential but not on contraceptive and missing menstrual period; or by self report; or by positive pregnancy test) or has had unprotected sexual intercourse without birth control in the last 4 weeks.

Read More

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Active rTMS first and sham rTMS second	active rTMS first, then sham rTMS	Participants in this arm will receive active rTMS in one visit first, then receive sham rTMS in another visit.
Sham rTMS first and active rTMS second	sham rTMS first, then active rTMS	Participants in this arm will receive sham rTMS in one visit first, then receive active rTMS in another visit.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change of mismatch negativity (MMN) from electroencephalography (EEG) signals by active and sham rTMS	2 weeks	TMS effect is explored by comparing MMN changes from active and sham rTMS. MMN is measured by subtracting the averaged EEG response to a set of standard stimuli from the averaged response to rarer deviant stimuli, and taking the amplitude of this difference wave in a given time window.
Change of resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) by active and sham rTMS	2 weeks	TMS effect is obtained by comparing rsFC change from active and sham rTMS.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Maryland, Baltimore; 🇺🇸 Baltimore, Maryland, United States