Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2014 Dec;12(3):222-228. 10.9758/cpn.2014.12.3.222.

Bilateral Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Auditory Hallucinations in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled, Cross-over Study

• Kim EJ
• Yeo S
• Hwang I
• Park JI
• Cui Y
• Jin HM
• Kim HT
• Hwang TY
• Chung YC

• KMID: 2279934
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2014.12.3.222

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
A randomized double-blind cross-over trial was conducted in patients with persistent auditory hallucinations (AHs) to investigate whether bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at the temporoparietal area or Broca's area is more effective at high- or low-frequencies compared to a sham condition.
METHODS
Twenty three patients with persistent AHs who remained stable on the same medication for 2 months were enrolled. They were randomized to one of four conditions: low-frequency (1 Hz)-rTMS to the temporoparietal area (L-TP), high-frequency (20 Hz)-rTMS to the temporoparietal area (H-TP), high-frequency (20 Hz)-rTMS to Broca's area (H-B), or sham.
RESULTS
All the four rTMS conditions resulted in significant decrease in the scores under the auditory hallucination rating scale and hallucination change scale over time. However, there were no significant treatment effects or interaction between time and treatment, suggesting no superior effects of the new paradigms over the sham condition.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that bilateral rTMS at the temporoparietal area or Broca's area with high- or low-frequency does not produce superior effects in reducing AHs compared to sham stimulation.

Keyword

Auditory hallucinations; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Broca area

MeSH Terms

Cross-Over Studies*
Frontal Lobe
Hallucinations*
Humans
Schizophrenia*
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*