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Magnetic Seizure Therapy for Schizophrenia

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
Schizophrenia
Interventions
Device: Magpro X100 + Option
Device: ThymatronSystem Ⅳ Electroconvulsive System
Other: treatment as usual (TAU)
Registration Number
NCT02746965
Lead Sponsor
Shanghai Mental Health Center
Brief Summary

This trial attempts to evaluate the treatment efficacy of magnetic seizure therapy (MST) and its safety among schizophrenia patients. Half of the participants will be randomized to MST group, while the other half will be randomized to receive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Detailed Description

Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is likely to be an alternative options to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Widespread stimulation of cortical and subcortical regions is inevitable for ECT since the substantial impedance of the scalp and skull shuts most of the electrical stimulus away from the brain. Nevertheless, magnetic pulses are capable to focus the stimulus to a specific area of the brain because they can pass the scalp and skull without resistance. In Addition, electric current will penetrate into deeper structures, while magnetic stimulus are only capable to reach a depth of a few centimeters. As a consequence, MST are able to generate focus stimuli on superficial regions of the cortex while ECT can't, which may give MST the capability to produce comparable therapeutic benefits with the absence of apparent cognitive side effects.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
79
Inclusion Criteria
  1. DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia;
  2. convulsive therapy clinically indicated, such as severe psychomotor excitement or retardation, attempts of suicide, being highly aggressive, pharmacotherapy intolerance, and ineffectiveness of antipsychotics;
  3. the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS)[20] score ≥ 60;
  4. informed consent in written form.
Exclusion Criteria
  1. diagnosis of other mental disorders;
  2. severe physical diseases, such as stroke, heart failure, liver failure, neoplasm, and immune deficiency;
  3. present with a laboratory abnormality that could impact on efficacy of treatments or safety of participants;
  4. failure to respond to an adequate trial of ECT lifetime;
  5. are pregnant or intend to get pregnant during the study;
  6. other conditions that investigators consider to be inappropriate to participate in this trial.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
magnetic seizure therapyMagpro X100 + Option10 treatment sessions of MST, three times per week in the first two weeks, two times per in the following two weeks.
magnetic seizure therapytreatment as usual (TAU)10 treatment sessions of MST, three times per week in the first two weeks, two times per in the following two weeks.
electroconvulsive therapyThymatronSystem Ⅳ Electroconvulsive System10 treatment sessions of modified-ECT, three times per week in the first two weeks, two times per in the following two weeks.
electroconvulsive therapytreatment as usual (TAU)10 treatment sessions of modified-ECT, three times per week in the first two weeks, two times per in the following two weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
changes of The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)At baseline, 4-week, 8-week
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
changes in motor threshold (MT)At baseline and the day after the first treatment

using single-pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS)

changes in Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS)At baseline, 4-week, 8-week
changes in brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)levelsAt baseline, the day after the first treatment, and at 4-week follow-up
changes in auditory evoked potential (AEP)At baseline and the day after the first treatment

measured by electroencephalogram (EEG)

changes in Novel P300At baseline and the day after the first treatment

measured by electroencephalogram (EEG)

changes in blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)At baseline and at 4-week follow-up
changes in resting state networkAt baseline, the day after the first treatment, and at 4-week follow-up

measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Shanghai Mental Health Center

🇨🇳

Shanghai, Shanghai, China

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