Treatment of hallucinated voices with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: Mechanism and efficacy.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Recruiting

Sex: Not specified

Target Recruitment: 48

Inclusion Criteria

Inpatients as well as outpatients can participate. All patients should meet the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and should report fairly frequent auditory hallucinations (at least daily). This inclusion information will be based on the patient’s medical file and a structured psychiatric interview (Schedules for clinical Assessments in Neuropsychiatry, SCAN) conducted at intake). Patients should also meet the criteria for medication resistance, defined as persistent auditory hallucinations occurring in face of at least two adequate trials of antipsychotic medication. Patients stay on their regular medication for the complete duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

Exclusion criteria include rTMS contraindications (e.g. a personal or family history of epileptic seizures, past neurosurgical procedures, intracerebral or pacemaker implants, inner ear prosthesis or other metal prosthetics/implants), neurological disorders, history of significant head trauma, severe behavioral disorders, and current substance abuse. For safety reasons we will also exclude female participants who may be pregnant. Subjects must show decision competence. Patients admitted under BOPZ regulation are not allowed to participate. Furthermore, the ability to give informed consent will be assessed by the patient’s psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. Only subjects who are fully capable of making their own decision regarding participation in the research will be included. Patients with an active psychosis cannot participate due to a lack of concentration and understanding necessary for completion of the procedure.

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
1. Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS);<br /><br>2. Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire (BAVQ);<br /><br>3. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS);<br /><br>4. Hallucination item P3.