Actively Recruiting
Accelerated Neuromodulation Therapy for Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Led by Douglas Mental Health University Institute · Updated on 2026-02-23
75
Participants Needed
3
Research Sites
117 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
D
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Lead Sponsor
C
Centre de recherche CERVO
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if an accelerated form of neuromodulation therapy can help improve negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Negative symptoms can include low motivation, reduced emotional expression, and difficulty with social interaction. The study will also look at how safe and tolerable this treatment is when given over a short period of time. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active neuromodulation therapy or sham (placebo) stimulation. The study will also compare two different ways of choosing where to place the stimulation. We want to learn whether this accelerated treatment approach is safe and feasible for people with schizophrenia, whether negative symptoms improve after treatment, and whether the way the stimulation site is chosen affects outcomes Participants will be asked to complete clinical interviews and questionnaires, undergo a brain scan, receive neuromodulation therapy or sham stimulation over five consecutive days, and attend follow-up visits after treatment This study is being conducted at three hospitals in Canada and is designed to help plan larger studies in the future.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Accelerated Neuromodulation Therapy for Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Confirmed diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophreniform disorder
- Duration of illness 6 months or longer
- Clinically significant negative symptoms
- Stable pharmacological treatment for at least 4 weeks before study entry
- Negative and positive symptoms stable for at least 3 months per clinical opinion
- Ability to provide informed consent
- Ability to undergo MRI scanning
You will not qualify if you...
- Pregnancy, lactation, or use of an intrauterine device
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the past 6 months
- Use of licit or illicit substances (except cannabis) during treatment week or 24 hours before fMRI
- Contraindications for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- Previous treatment with repetitive TMS (rTMS)
- History of significant intellectual disability
- Primary psychotic disorder due to medical condition or substance-induced psychosis
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 3 locations
1
Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H1N 3M5
Not Yet Recruiting
2
Institut universitaire de santé mentale de Québec - Centre de recherche CERVO
Québec, Quebec, Canada, G1J 2G3
Not Yet Recruiting
3
McGill Lab for Computational Psychiatry and Translation - Burland Pavilion 6875 Boulevard LaSalle Montreal, QC
Verdun, Quebec, Canada, H4H 1R3
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Ashley S. Choucroun
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
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