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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01512290

Theta Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as Treatment for Auditory Verbal Hallucinations

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are a characterising symptom of schizophrenia. In the majority of patients, these AVH respond well to antipsychotic medication. Yet, a significant minority continues to experience frequent AVH despite optimal pharmacotherapy. The number of alternative treatment options for this medication resistant group is currently low and most of them focus on coping with the hallucinations. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in contrast, is a non-invasive technique of influencing cortical excitability. This technique has the potential to actually decrease the frequency and severity of medication resistant hallucinations.

Several previous studies have assessed efficacy of low frequency rTMS, with contradicting results. A previous large study by the investigators group could not demonstrate efficacy of low frequency rTMS. A new stimulation protocol using theta burst rTMS (TBS) could provide a more effective therapeutic option.

Objective: The present study aims to examine the efficacy of TBS on the severity of AVH. Study design: The objectives are tested in a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trail.

Study population: 60 patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder or psychosis not otherwise specified with frequent auditory verbal hallucinations will be included.

Intervention: The participant will receive either 10 TBS treatments or 10 placebo treatments consisting of 900 pulses each with a 30 minute interval on the left temporoparietal area, distributed over 5 treatment days. Stimulation will be at 80% of the motor threshold.

Main study parameters/endpoints: the main study parameter is the change in the severity of the AVH. The secondary study parameter is the number and severity of adverse events.

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Key information

Conditions

Schizophrenia Hallucinations Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Perceptual Disorders Psychotic Disorders Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

UMC Utrecht

Utrecht, 3584 CX, Netherlands

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder or psychosis not otherwise specified.
  • Age 18+ years.
  • Frequent auditory verbal hallucinations (cut-off at >once an hour).
  • Written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Metal objects in or around the head that cannot be removed (i.e. cochlear implant, surgical clips, piercing, cardiac pacemaker, medicinal pumps)
  • History of seizures
  • Increased intracranial pressure due to infarcts or trauma.
  • History of eye trauma with a metal object or professional metal workers
  • Patients who are coercively treated at a psychiatric ward (based on a judicial ruling)
  • Patients who are represented by a legal ward or under legal custody
  • In female patients, there should be no possibility for pregnancy as determined with a pregnancy test
  • Changes in the prescribed medication in a period of 2 weeks prior to participation

Treatment and study plan

Theta Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Other

This rTMS paradigm consists of 5 pulses at 50Hz repeated at 5Hz for 60 seconds with a total of 900 pulses per treatment

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in severity and frequency of auditory verbal hallucinations

    Time frame: 1 week/ 1 month

    This is as experienced by the participant. The change in score on the Auditory Hallucination Assessment Scale (AHAS; Frederick, 2000), the PSYRATS (Haddock et al., 1999) and the total score on the PANSS item 3 (Kay et al. 1987), the item concerning the severity of the hallucinations, after one week of treatment end one month after treatment will be used for this outcome.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number and severity of adverse events

    Time frame: 1 week/ 1 month

    This is measured by the use of a selection of the Global index of Safety (Prieto, Sacristan & Gomez, 2004). The scores on this questionnaire are compared between the two conditions.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

UMC Utrecht

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Theta Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as Treatment for Auditory Verbal Hallucinations; a Placebo-controlled Trail

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
Jan 19, 2012
Registry last updated
Sep 25, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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