Intensive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia

Inclusion Criteria: * Signed an informed consent, the patient must be able and willing to participate in a research study, * Undergo an examination by international neuropsychiatric questionnaire MINI - PLUS to confirm the diagnosis of schizophrenia * schizophrenic illness duration longer than one year, * have a stable and consistent drug treatment at least two weeks prior the rTMS treatment * persistent negative symptoms without further psychiatric comorbidity (like depression, mania, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, etc.) in the foreground of the illness * The sum of negative scores in the range Positive and negative symptom score (PANSS) must be 20 points or higher and at least one item from the area of negative symptoms (N1-N7) must be ≥ 4 points (at least moderate, clinically significant symptoms), * improvement in negative symptom-sum (measuring by PANSS) must be 10% or lower during the last two weeks before rTMS stimulation. Exclusion Criteria: * involuntary stay in a psychiatric clinic during the recruitment of patients; * clinically relevant unstable medical conditions; * factors incompatible with the use of rTMS, such as pacemakers, heart pumps and other metal implants; * history of epileptic seizures or the presence of epileptic activity documented on the basis of EEG * current treatment with anticonvulsant acting drugs such as anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines (10mg/D or less of diazepam or equivalent dosage of other benzodiazepines); * lack of cognitive skills for participation; * clinically relevant psychiatric comorbidity (any other axis 1 diagnosis) detected using MINI Plus, including the current abuse of drugs and alcohol; * heart attack or traumatic head injury in the anamnesis * Patient unable to undergo a brain MRI * Acute risk of suicide; * knowledge of Czech language at a level that does not allow fill the required test battery; * pregnancy