Symptom Based Treatment Affects Brain Plasticity - the Role of Verbal Auditory Hallucinations

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the study is the examination of brain plasticity on verbal auditory hallucinations (AVH) after neuromodulation with fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) neurofeedback. During the training of fMRI neurofeedback subjects are trained to regulate consciously the connectivity of areas which are associated with hallucinations.The aim is to improve perceived hallucinations' intensity in everyday life of the patients as well as investigating the impact of neurofeedback on resting-state networks in the brain. As control groups, control subjects without AVH and participants with AVH, but no psychiatric diagnosis will be included.

Detailed Description
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This study investigates the brain plasticity after neuromodulation with fMRI neurofeedback on verbal auditory hallucinations (AVH). The new technique of real-time fMRI enables subjects to influence their brain activity in certain areas based on neurofeedback. Current brain activity as measured by fMRI will be reported to the participants in real time via brain computer interface (BCI). Due to the identification of contingency between feedback and mental strategies subjects are able to control their own brain activity consciously. This provides the opportunity to control symptoms such as AVH. Neurofeedback has been tested on subjects with schizophrenia, leading to conscious control of circumscribed brain areas. Recent studies show that, in addition to the modulation of single areas, neurofeedback can also modulate connectivity between different areas. Thus, it is possible to regulate not only single brain regions but also whole networks. AVH are a key symptom of schizophrenia. They limit social functions significantly and are resistant to the therapy with antipsychotics in 25 % of cases. AVH also occur in 6-15 % of the healthy population, without meeting any diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia or other psychiatric disorders. This study will perform a direct, not-invasive and selective modulation of networks underlying AVH and assess their neural, cognitive and emotional effects. The focus of this study is on the connectivity between auditory cortex and inferior frontal cortex. Various studies demonstrated that the auditory cortex exhibits an abnormal function in schizophrenia patients. It was shown that during AVH, auditory cortex (superior temporal lobe) and inferior frontal cortex synchronize spontaneously. These regions play an essential role in speech perception and processing. An increased synchronisation of these areas could lead to the development of AVH. This study will try to reduce frontotemporal connectivity to uncouple the regions. Increasing connectivity of both areas will serve as control condition and furthermore intensify the perceived control of the own brain activity and of the associated AVH. Thus, patients will learn which factors influence the appearance of their hallucinations.

Conditions
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Hallucinations, Verbal Auditory

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: fMRI
* Behavioral: Neurofeedback
* Other: PANAS
* Other: AVHRS
* Other: SF36


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Schizophrenia according to ICD-10 (F2x) with verbal hallucinations or only verbal hallucinations (no psychiatric diagnosis) or healthy subjects without verbal hallucinations Fluent German language skills Exclusion Criteria: addiction severe affective disorder any contraindication to MRI examination or claustrophobia pregnant or lactating women traumatic brain lesions acute physical or neurological impairments acute suicidal tendency Lack of informed consent

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: fMRI Neurofeedback up-regulation<br>Study related procedures included: PANAS, AVHRS, SF 36 (questionnaires or evaluations) | Procedure: fMRI<br>* collection of functional brain data for 1 hour per day<br>* Other names: functional magnetic resonance imaging;Behavioral: Neurofeedback<br>* Task of the participants is to increase or decrease the connectivity between selected brain regions in double-blind, randomized order. After the regulation they will get a feedback about the regulation success. (Patients and controls with AVH: days 3 & 4; controls without AVH: Days 2 & 3)<br>Other: PANAS<br>* to assess the mood before and after the fMRI and after 1 week during a telephone interview<br>* Other names: Positive And Negative Affect Scales;Other: AVHRS<br>* to assess the intensity and quality of the hallucinations before and after the fMRI and after 1 week during a telephone interview<br>* Other names: Auditory Vocal Hallucinations Rating Scale;Other: SF36<br>* questionnaire about life quality after 1 week during a telephone interview<br>|
| Experimental: fMRI Neurofeedback down-regulation<br>Study related procedures included: PANAS, AVHRS, SF 36 (questionnaires or evaluations) | Procedure: fMRI<br>* collection of functional brain data for 1 hour per day<br>* Other names: functional magnetic resonance imaging;Behavioral: Neurofeedback<br>* Task of the participants is to increase or decrease the connectivity between selected brain regions in double-blind, randomized order. After the regulation they will get a feedback about the regulation success. (Patients and controls with AVH: days 3 & 4; controls without AVH: Days 2 & 3)<br>Other: PANAS<br>* to assess the mood before and after the fMRI and after 1 week during a telephone interview<br>* Other names: Positive And Negative Affect Scales;Other: AVHRS<br>* to assess the intensity and quality of the hallucinations before and after the fMRI and after 1 week during a telephone interview<br>* Other names: Auditory Vocal Hallucinations Rating Scale;Other: SF36<br>* questionnaire about life quality after 1 week during a telephone interview<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| change in self-control over neuronal connectivity | fMRI-BCI as a measure before and after the regulation of the brain activity | 1 week | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes from baseline in brain plasticity | fMRI as a measure for brain plasticity before and after neurofeedback | 2 weeks | 
| Change in pathology (AVH) | Auditory Vocal Hallucinations Rating Scale (AVHRS) as a measure of the intensity and quality of the hallucinations before and after the fMRI and after 1 week during a telephone interview | 1 week after interventions | 
| number of patients and subjects with benefits from neurofeedback training |  | 2 weeks | 
| change in brain activation | fMRI as a measure before and after the following resting state | 1 week after interventions | 
| Change in pathology (mood) | Positive And Negative Affect Scales (PANAS) as a measure of mood before and after the fMRI and after 1 week during a telephone interview | 1 week after interventions | 
| Change in perceived quality of life | SF36 questionnaire as a measure of the quality of life before and after the fMRI and after 1 week during a telephone interview | 1 week after interventions | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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fMRI, neurofeedback, hallucination, schizophrenia