Magnetic Stimulation Tested for Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia
Tests magnetic brain stimulation against sham in adults with schizophrenia.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation to Improve Negative Symptoms and Cognition in Schizophrenia
Key facts
- Where
- Hanover, GermanySee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
Source: NCT06740747, who can take part
Where in Germany
- Hannover Medical SchoolHanover, GermanyTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Hannover Medical School
- Trial code
- NCT06740747
- Record updated
- 18 September 2026
- Original description
The planned randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind, monocentric study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (iTBS) on negative symptoms and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Both the cerebellar vermis and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex will be stimulated successively within the same session.Read full original descriptionShow less
Intermittierende Theta-Burst-Stimulation Zur Verbesserung Von Negativsymptomatik Und Kognition Bei Schizophrenie
The planned randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind, monocentric study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (iTBS) on negative symptoms and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Both the cerebellar vermis and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex will be stimulated successively within the same session.
The goal of this trial is to learn if intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) of the cerebellum and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortext (DLPFC) can treat negative symptoms and improve cognition in patients with schizophrenia. The main question it aims to answer is:
Does iTBS of the cerebellum and the left DLPFC improve negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia? Researchers will compare iTBS to sham stimulation to see if iTBS improves negative symptoms.
Participants will:
* Receive 10 sessions of iTBS over the course of 2 weeks * Undergo extensive examination before iTBS treatment, immediately after iTBS treatment and 4 weeks after iTBS treatment. The examination includes assessment of negative symptoms; psychometric assessment of cognition, social cognition, depressive symptoms; functional magnetic resonance imaging; assessment of eye movements; blood and saliva sampling; assessment of adverse events and stimulation associated sensations.
The study thus seeks to determine whether iTBS of the fronto-cerebellar network might improve negative symptoms and cognition by altering the network's functional activity. Additionally, it will investigate whether a pro-inflammatory cytokine profile could affect iTBS outcomes and whether inflammatory markers could be affected by iTBS.
Inclusion: Diagnosis of schizophrenia (ICD-10: F20.-); Age: 18-65 years; Ability to give informed consent; Signed informed consent form.
Exclusion: Any electronic implants; Non-MRI-compatible metal implants (e.g., pacemaker, cochlear implant, insulin pump, metal fragment injuries, work in the metal-processing industry); Non-TMS-compatible metal implants (compatible items include: earrings, piercings, dental fillings, crowns, implants); Current drug, medication, or alcohol abuse; Planned changes in psychopharmacological medication within the next 2 weeks; Epilepsy; History of traumatic brain injury within the last 3 months; History of stroke; Active central nervous system (CNS) infection; History of CNS infection within the last 3 months; Severe physical illnesses that could endanger the patient, affect the examinations or make the MRI scanning cause additional burden; Claustrophobia; Pregnancy; Simultaneous participation in another clinical trial.