Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Motor Symptoms in Psychiatric Disorders

Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Motor Symptoms of Patients With Psychiatric Disorders

Psychomotor slowing may occur in major psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorders or schizophrenia spectrum disorders. It refers to slowing of fine motor skills, motor planning and gross motor behavior. In major depression and schizophrenia, psychomotor slowing is associated with alterations of premotor cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. This randomized, sham-controlled, prospective trial will test, whether 15 sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may ameliorate psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia or major depression.

Psychomotor slowing may occur in major psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorders or schizophrenia spectrum disorders. It refers to slowing of fine motor skills, motor planning and gross motor behavior. In major depression and schizophrenia, psychomotor slowing is associated with alterations of premotor cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. This randomized, sham-controlled, prospective trial will test, whether 15 sessions of rTMS in 3 weeks may ameliorate psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia or major depression.

Eligible participants will be randomized to one of four arms:

Inclusion Criteria:

• suffering from major depressive disorder or schizophrenia spectrum disorder according to DSM-5 criteria
• right handedness
• normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing

Exclusion Criteria:

• epilepsy
• history of severe head trauma
• current abuse of drugs or alcohol; past addiction to drugs or alcohol
• pregnancy
• incompatibility to cerebral MRI