Study of Multi-target Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia Patients Aged 16 to 45

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating a new multi-target repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rTMS approach to address negative symptoms in people with schizophrenia. This randomized controlled trial evaluates the safety and effectiveness of stimulating three brain regions the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left inferior parietal lobule, and right orbitofrontal cortex. Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness where current treatments often do not improve negative symptoms and cognitive issues well, so this study aims to explore a novel treatment strategy using brain stimulation guided by MRI technology. Participants will receive 50 sessions of theta burst stimulation TBS over 10 consecutive working days, with five sessions per day spaced by 60 minutes. Each session targets the three brain areas in sequence, delivering 600 pulses per target. The study includes two groups one receiving active TBS and the other receiving a sham placebo-like stimulation with the coil rotated 180 degrees. This design helps researchers compare the effects of the active treatment versus the control. Throughout the study, participants will undergo clinical and cognitive assessments as well as resting-state functional MRI scans before and after the treatment period. Negative symptoms will be measured multiple times up to four weeks after treatment to monitor changes. Safety is closely tracked daily during treatment by recording any adverse events. The total participation duration spans from initial screening to follow-up assessments 42 days after treatment completion.

Multi-target TMS for Schizophrenia Negative Symptoms