NCT03037983

Improving Neurocognitive Deficits and Function in Schizophrenia With Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 9 (actual)
• Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development · Federal
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is effective in remediating cognitive deficits while also improving functionality in Veterans with schizophrenia.

Detailed description

High-frequency, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the dysfunctional brain region most implicated in cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, has recently been shown to improve cognition in non-Veteran samples with schizophrenia. The investigators' goal is to confirm the efficacy of this treatment modality to remediate cognitive deficits and improve functionality in Veterans with schizophrenia, as well as to gain a better understanding of the neural mechanisms responsible for cognitive deficits and their remediation. The investigators propose conducting a small-scale study to generate pilot data supporting the feasibility of conducting rTMS with Veterans and the effectiveness of rTMS in this population. In addition, the investigators will conduct neurophysiologic experiments to test whether certain neural maker of abnormal brain function improves with rTMS.

Conditions

• Schizophrenia
• Schizoaffective Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation	rTMS is a non-invasive procedure, in which the administration of a transient magnetic field induces electrical currents in specific, targeted brain regions. The intervention will be administered in 20 sessions lasting 50 minutes each over the course of 2-6 weeks. Up to two sessions may be scheduled per day with a one-hour interval in-between.
DEVICE	Sham	Subjects will still attend treatment sessions as outlined in the rTMS intervention. However, the device will not deliver any stimulation to the subject.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-08-01
• Primary completion: 2019-07-18
• Completion: 2019-07-18
• First posted: 2017-01-31
• Last updated: 2024-08-15
• Results posted: 2020-08-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study