Cognitive Effects of tDCS and tRNS in Schizophrenia

Cognitive Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS) in Schizophrenia: A Random, Crossover Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the cognitive effects of different electrical stimulation modalities, such as transcranial direct and random-noise stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, in schizophrenia.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of schizophrenia based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)5
• Being 18-50 years old (male and female)
• If female, negative urine pregnancy test
• feasibility for tDCS/tRNS interventions according to safety guidelines
• stable medication regime, especially for classical neuroleptics and all central nervous system activating medications, if taken, 4-6 weeks before the experiment
• fluency in the native language
• right-handed
• Required written informed consent signed by patients' guardian

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy
• alcohol or substance dependence
• comorbid bipolar disorder and mood disorder
• history of seizure
• history of neurological disorder
• history of head injury
• Presence of ferromagnetic objects in the body that are contraindicated for brain stimulation of the head (pacemakers or other implanted electrical devices, brain stimulators, some types of dental implants, aneurysm clips, metallic prostheses, permanent eyeliner, implanted delivery pump, or shrapnel fragments)