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A treatmentstudy for apathy in schizophrenia.

Conditions
*Apathy - apathie*Cognitive functioning - cognitief functioneren*Schizophrenia - schizofrenie
Registration Number
NL-OMON20441
Lead Sponsor
Geld van Ministerie van OC&W aan universiteiten
Brief Summary

/A

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Pending
Sex
Not specified
Target Recruitment
125
Inclusion Criteria

1. At least 18 y.o.a.;

2. Diagnosis schizophrenia, according to DSM IV;

Exclusion Criteria

fMRI:

1. Metal implants (pacemaker, heart valves, vascular clips, eye-implants, copper containing intra-uterine devices, or non-removable piercing);

Study & Design

Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The main objective is to investigate whether treatment using neurostimulation (tDCS or rTMS) targeting the rDLPFC reduces apathy in schizophrenia patients by activating the targeted brain region and whether tDCS is equally effective as rTMS. Thus, we investigate whether tDCS and / or rTMS increases the activity of the dorsolateral PFC - striatal circuit AS measured by fMRI, and thereby reduces ratings of apathy (and associated impairments of executive functions) as indexed by the Apathy Evaluation Scale, and increases goal-directed behaviour as measured by the Acti-meter.
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
A secondary aim is to evaluate if a psychosocial intervention, in the form of BAT, in addition to a biological intervention, TMS, further reduces the level of apathy. The to be compared measures are the level of apathy as indexed by the AES, and psychomotor activity obtained by the Acti-meter. In addition, we will investigate which patients are more likely to benefit from rTMS treatment. Applying near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) before, and during the first TMS session will enable us to investigate whether baseline frontoparietal connectivity is predictive of the clinical response to rTMS.
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