Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Patients With Treatment Resistant Auditory Verbal Hallucination

This study will evaluate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in schizophrenia with treatment resistant auditory verbal hallucination

Brief summary:

This study will evaluate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in schizophrenia with treatment resistant auditory hallucination

Detailed description:

Auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia disorders have been proposed to be associated with a source- monitoring deficit. The improvement of the monitoring deficit will have major impact on the improvement of hallucinatory symptoms and the social function. Brain network considered to play a major role in source monitoring is the default mode (DM) network. An increasing activity during the brain's resting phase and decreasing activity during stimulus-induced brain activity, increased rest activity in the primary auditory cortex which contributes to conditions, internal speech perceived as a tangible external sound, triggering the occurrence of verbal auditory hallucinations in schizophrenic disorders.

This study will determine if

1-Hz low-frequency, transcranial repetitive magnetic stimulus could be used to inhibit hyperconnectivity between these DM networks and other brain regions, allowing the source-monitoring capability to function properly. This study will measure the oscillatory strength and functional connectivity in the DM network via EEG resting-state activity in schizophrenic with auditory hallucinations before and after rTMS administration. With a seed-based analysis, using the region of interest (ROIs) in the posterior cortex area of the cortex (PPC), precuneus area (PCu), the inferior parietal area (IPC), the medial temporal (MT) area, the medial frontal area (MFC) and the singulatum cortex anterior (ACC) in bilateral hemispheres to create an EEG-based brain activity mapping, measuring cortical spectral power and functional connectivity in the ROIs.

Before starting rTMS, participants will undergo : (1) general and psychiatric assessment, (2) neuropsychological test to evaluate hallucination and source-monitoring ability, (3) an EEG recording (which takes about 1 hour). After these assessment are completed, participants will be randomly assigned (by computer program) to receive either 1 Hz frequency rTMS or placebo stimulation for 20 minutes per day over a 10-day period. During this time, the participants will not know whether they received real or placebo TMS. For 10-days, stimulation will be administered to an area of the left temporal lobe of the brain (temporo-parietal junction).

After trial is completed, participants will be told if they received real or placebo. If the participants have receive only place stimulation, they will then be offered a trial of real rTMS.

TMS is not causing pain, but it can be uncomfortable due to a tingling or knocking sensation, contraction of scalp and facial muscles. There is also a small risk of seizure associated with TMS, but because of the lower frequency of stimulation used in this study (1 stimulation per second), this risk is significant only for participants who have a prior history of seizures, epilepsy, or other neurological problem. Investigators are also concerned that TMS may cause hearing problems. Therefore, investigators will carefully monitor participants for early signs of such problem, using hearing-safety aid to every stimulation session. If investigators suspect that a participant is experiencing problems with hearing, the trial is stopped.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Met the criteria of all types of schizophrenia or schizoaffective based on structured clinical interview instruments for the DSM-IV axis I disorders (SCID-I)
2. Patients had entered the stabilization phase with 2 to 3 months of antipsychotic treatment and no drug changes within the last 2 (two) months
3. Elementary school graduated (minimum)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with a history of stroke, heart failure, head injury, infection or brain tumor, epilepsy, alcohol and opiate abuse, amphetamines obtained from anamnesis, physical examination and patient medical records
2. Patients with neurological focal deficits such as hemiparesis and cranial nerve paresis
3. Patients with severe cognitive deficits (MMSE scores \<25 in the first and second graders of Senior Secondary School and \<21 in Primary School Graduates)
4. Patients with severe hearing loss were assessed with a 5-word auditory test
5. Patients with mental retardation, assessed using the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (WTAR) test and data from medical records.