Transcranial magnetic stimulation for the deficit syndrome of schizophrenia: a pilot investigation.
In an open study, four subjects with a stable deficit syndrome of schizophrenia received high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (15 Hz at 90% of motor threshold, 1800 pulses each session, daily for 20 sessions over 4 weeks) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Subjects showed a significant reduction in negative symptoms and improvement in function, with no change in positive symptoms. This improvement was maintained at the 1 month follow up. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation as a treatment of the deficit syndrome of schizophrenia is feasible, safe and may be beneficial. A systematic study in randomized control trials would be appropriate.
Sachdev
Perminder
P
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. p.sachdev@unsw.edu.au
Loo
Colleen
C
Mitchell
Philip
P
Malhi
Gin
G
D000328:Adult; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology