Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia Patients.

A Randomized Double-blind Controlled Study of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia Patients.

This study is to determine whether high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is effective in the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia patients

The principal objective of this trial is to investigate the effect of high frequency rTMS on negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-IV；
• 18～55 years old；
• schizophrenic illness duration longer than one year;
• The sum of negative scores in the range Positive and negative symptom score (PANSS) must be 20 points or higher, at least one item from the area of negative symptoms (N1-N7) must be ≥ 4 points (at least moderate, clinically significant symptoms), and improvement in negative symptom-sum (measuring by PANSS) must be 10% or lower during the last two weeks before rTMS stimulation.
• Have a stable and consistent drug treatment at least two weeks prior the rTMS treatment;
• Able to adhere to the treatment schedule;
• IQ≥80;
• Dextromanual, normal vision and hearing;
• Signed an informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• rTMS contraindications: intracranial metal substance, with heart pacemakers and cochlear implants, intracranial pressure;
• Acute risk of suicide and impulse；
• patients to be diagnosed according to DSM-IV for substance abused, development delayed;
• suffering from serious physical disease and can not accept the treatment;
• history of epileptic seizures or the presence of epileptic activity documented on the basis of EEG;
• difficult to maintain the current drug treatment for at least 1 month;
• undergoing ECT or MECT in last 3 months;
• current treatment with anticonvulsant acting drugs such as anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines.