title: Delayed effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on negative symptoms of schizophrenia: Findings from a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Evidence is inconsistent regarding the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on negative symptoms of schizophrenia. In this study, 47 patients were randomized to receive either active rTMS over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (n=25) or sham stimulation (n=22). Negative symptoms were assessed with the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. At 4 weeks, there was no difference in SANS scores between 2 groups. By 8 weeks, patients with active rTMS had significantly reduced SANS score than controls. Our findings suggest a delayed effect of rTMS on negative symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Suzhou Psychiatry Hospital, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Suzhou Psychiatry Hospital, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Suzhou Psychiatry Hospital, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Lyu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Suzhou Psychiatry Hospital, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lan-Lan
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Suzhou Psychiatry Hospital, Suzhou, China. Electronic address: xiangdong-du@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiang-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: galenhung@tpech.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Galen Chin-Lun
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Hung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Negative symptoms; Randomized controlled study; rTMS