title: Bilateral Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Auditory Hallucinations in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled, Cross-over Study.
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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Ji
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seonguk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Inho
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea. ; Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea. ; Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk Provincial Maeumsarang Hospital, Wanju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Tae
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk Provincial Maeumsarang Hospital, Wanju, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Young
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea. ; Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea. ; Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chung
keywords: Auditory hallucinations; Broca area; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation