NCT01941251Active, not recruiting
Navigated αTMS in Treatment-resistant Schizophrenia
Navigated Alpha Frequency Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (αTMS) in Treatment-resistant Schizophrenia
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 19 May 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Since 1990s, stimulation of prefrontal cortex (PFC) has shown therapeutic effects on auditory hallucinations as well as negative symptoms of schizophrenia. However, previous studies have reported mixed or negative results. Majority of the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) studies to date has set the target of cortical stimulation based on scalp site. Recently introduced method, navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) integrates the individual MRI data, and thus allows more precise targeting on brain cortical regions enhancing the efficacy of rTMS. Previous EEG studies have suggested reduced alpha band activity in patients with schizophrenia. Some recent studies using alpha (α) EEG guided TMS for treating positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia have demonstrated promising results. The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of navigated individualized αTMS in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia. Approximately fifty patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia will be enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study. The patients will receive 13 - 15 session of αTMS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), as adjunctive therapy, for 3 weeks. We assess patients via the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and neurocognitive test battery at baseline, 5 days after and 3 months after treatment. Serum and plasma levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are assayed at pre and post treatment weeks.
- Status (registry)
- Active, not recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 50 (actual)
- First submitted
- 9 Sept 2013
- Start date
- 21 Mar 2013
- Primary completion date
- 21 Dec 2015
- Lead sponsor
- Niuvanniemi Hospital
- Diseases
- Schizophrenia
- NCT number
- NCT01941251
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Participants enrolled: 50
- From 21 Mar 2013 to the primary completion date, 21 Dec 2015
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study design.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Electro convulsive therapy (ECT) less than 3 months prior to treatment
Other illness
- Serious somatic illness
- Progressive neurological illness, recent brain damage (less than 3 months ago) or sequela of serious brain damage
- Unstable epilepsy
Who the study is looking for
- Male righthanded inpatients, 18 to 64 years of age
- The diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder according to DSM-IV
- Capacity and willingness to give informed consent
- Patient is treatment-resistant, CGI-S 4 or more
- Patient is not requiring a change in antipsychotic medication 2 weeks prior to or during treatment
- No foreseeable changes in patient's smoking habits during treatment
Age in the registry: 18 years to 64 years · Sex: Male · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Save your city in your profile to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niuvanniemi Hospital Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Kuopio | Finland | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.