A sham-controlled trial of left and right temporal rTMS for the treatment of auditory hallucinations.
BACKGROUND
Several studies have reported reduction of auditory hallucinations (AH) after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the left temporal cortex. This study explored the effects of rTMS to the left and right temporal cortex.


METHODS
Eighteen subjects with schizophrenia and frequent AH were enrolled in a double-blind, cross-over trial of 3 days of active rTMS to the left or right temporal cortex, or sham rTMS to the vertex (control condition), followed by an open treatment phase. The effects on AH were assessed by a blinded rater, using the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS).


RESULTS
During the double-blind phase, active temporal rTMS did not result in significantly greater improvement in hallucination scores than sham rTMS to the vertex, apart from a reduction in distress scores. Hallucination scores improved during the open continued treatment phase.


CONCLUSIONS
This study did not demonstrate an advantage for left temporal rTMS compared to right temporal and sham stimulation, over a 3-day stimulation period, but found modest improvement in hallucinations during continued open label treatment.
Loo
C K
CK
School of Psychiatry, University of NSW and Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia. colleen.loo@unsw.edu.au
Sainsbury
K
K
Mitchell
P
P
Hadzi-Pavlovic
D
D
Sachdev
P S
PS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult