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High-frequency rTMS shows schizophrenic benefits
08 Nov 2004
High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) appears to be effective for reducing depressive and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, German investigators have found.
They warn, however, that there is also a tendency for a worsening of positive symptoms with this type of treatment.
Recognizing that recent publications have provided increasing evidence that rTMS may be useful for the treatment of schizophrenia, the team, led by Göran Hakak from the University of Regensburg, randomly assigned 20 patients with the disorder to undergo high-frequency 10 Hz rTMS or sham stimulation over a 10-day period.
All of the patients were takiing stable antipsychotic medication at least 2 weeks prior to entering the study.
High-frequency rTMS led to a significant reduction in negative symptoms, as measured on the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, compared with sham stimulation.
Patients receiving active treatment also showed a non-significant improvement in depressive symptoms relative to those given sham treatment.
This demonstrates that treatment efficacy of high-frequency rTMS in schizophrenia is "not due to a selective improvement of depressive symptoms, as has been shown in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, but has specific beneficial effects preferentially on negative symptoms," the team writes in the journal Psychological Medicine.
Nevertheless, rTMS also had a negative effect on positive symptoms, with a trend for worsening of such symptoms seen in those receiving active therapy.
Hakak and team suggest that "the significant reduction of negative symptoms together with similar trend for improvement of depressed mood may reflect correction of dysfunctional dopaminergic neurotransmission."
Based on their findings, they conclude: "High-frequency rTMS may be of particular benefit in patients with a low level of subcortical dopamine function."
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08 Nov 2004
High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) appears to be effective for reducing depressive and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, German investigators have found.
They warn, however, that there is also a tendency for a worsening of positive symptoms with this type of treatment.
Recognizing that recent publications have provided increasing evidence that rTMS may be useful for the treatment of schizophrenia, the team, led by Göran Hakak from the University of Regensburg, randomly assigned 20 patients with the disorder to undergo high-frequency 10 Hz rTMS or sham stimulation over a 10-day period.
All of the patients were takiing stable antipsychotic medication at least 2 weeks prior to entering the study.
High-frequency rTMS led to a significant reduction in negative symptoms, as measured on the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, compared with sham stimulation.
Patients receiving active treatment also showed a non-significant improvement in depressive symptoms relative to those given sham treatment.
This demonstrates that treatment efficacy of high-frequency rTMS in schizophrenia is "not due to a selective improvement of depressive symptoms, as has been shown in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, but has specific beneficial effects preferentially on negative symptoms," the team writes in the journal Psychological Medicine.
Nevertheless, rTMS also had a negative effect on positive symptoms, with a trend for worsening of such symptoms seen in those receiving active therapy.
Hakak and team suggest that "the significant reduction of negative symptoms together with similar trend for improvement of depressed mood may reflect correction of dysfunctional dopaminergic neurotransmission."
Based on their findings, they conclude: "High-frequency rTMS may be of particular benefit in patients with a low level of subcortical dopamine function."
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