Right prefrontal slow repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in schizophrenia: a double-blind sham-controlled pilot study.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to extend our previous work on the therapeutic efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in major depression to patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
Thirty-five inpatients with schizophrenia were randomly assigned to either right prefrontal rTMS or sham treatment and were rated before and after treatment for positive, negative, and depressive symptoms.


RESULTS
Thirty-one subjects (rTMS = 16, sham = 15) completed a 2-week treatment protocol. No serious adverse effects were reported; however, rTMS was not superior to sham treatment on any of the clinical ratings.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to our previous positive findings in major depression, right prefrontal slow rTMS does not appear to have a beneficial effect for actively psychotic patients with schizophrenia.
Klein
E
E
Department of Psychiatry, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
Kolsky
Y
Y
Puyerovsky
M
M
Koren
D
D
Chistyakov
A
A
Feinsod
M
M
D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010507:Periodicity; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012886:Skull; D016896:Treatment Outcome