The Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Schizophrenia

The Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Schizophrenia--A Randomized , Double-blind fMRI Study

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) can modulate neuronal activity and has been shown to improve symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, but the underlying neural mechanism is unknown.This study hypothesized that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the cerebellar vermis can alter the ciliary-related functional connections in schizophrenia, thereby improving negative symptoms, cognitive function, and emotional symptoms. Therefore, this study will firstly explore the difference in cerebellar functional connectivity between patients and healthy controls, and on this basis, patients undergo a resting state functional magnetic resonance scan before and after rTMS intervention in the cerebellar vermis, and observe the cerebellar function connection in the treatment. Before and after changes, analyze the relationship between these changes and clinical efficacy to explore the neural mechanisms of efficacy.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) can modulate neuronal activity and has been shown to improve symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, but the underlying neural mechanism is unknown.This study hypothesized that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the cerebellar vermis can alter the ciliary-related functional connections in schizophrenia, thereby improving negative symptoms, cognitive function, and emotional symptoms. Therefore, this study will firstly explore the difference in cerebellar functional connectivity between patients and healthy controls, and on this basis, patients undergo a resting state functional magnetic resonance scan before and after rTMS intervention in the cerebellar vermis, and observe the cerebellar function connection in the treatment. Before and after changes, analyze the relationship between these changes and clinical efficacy to explore the neural mechanisms of efficacy.

1. Aim of the study 1.1 Using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging to observe the differences in cerebellar functional connections between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls, and to further understand the role of cerebellar abnormalities in the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia; 1.2 Provide evidence-based evidence and imaging evidence for the clinical efficacy of rTMS intervention in cerebellar palsy for patients with schizophrenia, and further understand the neural mechanism of efficacy.
2. Content of the study 2.1 Based on previous studies, this study will use resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to observe abnormalities in behavioral and cerebellar neural networks in patients with schizophrenia compared with healthy controls, and to explore these abnormalities and schizophrenia. The relationship between clinical symptoms. 2.2 According to the research hypothesis, this study will perform a resting-state functional magnetic resonance scan of the patient before and after rTMS intervention in the cerebellar vermis. The functional connection analysis method is used to observe the changes of the cerebellar nerve network before and after treatment, and the imaging data and clinical evaluation. The data of the scale is combined to explore the neural mechanisms of treatment.
3. Study design This study used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the differences in cerebrospinal function connections between schizophrenia and healthy controls. Based on this, a randomized double-blind control design was used to study the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the cerebellar vermis for patients with schizophrenia. The clinical efficacy of the treatment and the neural mechanisms of the therapeutic effect. Inpatients with schizophrenia were admitted to the Shanghai Mental Health Center, and patients who met the criteria and successfully enrolled were randomly grouped (by random number table method), corresponding to the rTMS true stimulation group or the rTMS pseudo-stimulation group. Except for the rTMS operator, neither the patient nor the evaluator of the scale knew the patient's grouping.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The patient met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia in DSM-IV;
• 18-55 years old;
• Right handed;
• On stable doses of psychotropic medications.

Exclusion Criteria:

• DSM-IV diagnosis of other Axis I disorders；
• Contraindications to TMS or MRI；
• Patients receiving ECT (electro-convulsive therapy) in last 6months；
• Left-handedness。