The Effect of tDCS on Schizophrenia With Negative Symptoms

Seoul National University Hospital

Overview

The investigators conducted a randomized controlled trial to reveal the effect of tDCS on negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and its underlying mechanism using the neuroimaging and electrophysiology.

The project will investigate the use of a novel technique, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. tDCS permit the application of an extremely weak continuous electrical current to the brain through an anode and a cathode applied on the scalp. Anodal stimulation appears to increase brain activity whereas cathodal stimulation has the opposite effect. Using anodal and cathodal tDCS the investigators aimed to treat negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The investigators plan to apply tDCS such that it can simultaneously increased activity in the frontal brain areas and reduce activity over temporoparietal cortex, 2 areas involved in the physiopathology of the disease. Real active stimulation will be compare to a sham condition in 44 patients (22 in each group). 44 patients will be included in Seoul National University Hospital

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Conditions

Schizophrenia

Interventions

tDCSDEVICE

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of neurostimulation that uses constant, low direct current delivered via electrodes on the head. It can be contrasted with cranial electrotherapy stimulation, which generally uses alternating current the same way

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 50 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * DSM-IV Schizophrenia * 1 or more items of Negative symptom score in PANSS \> 5 Exclusion Criteria: * presences of neurological disorder or history * IQ \< 70 * presence of severe personality disorders * presence of substance use disorder (except nicotin) * pregnancy * presence of severe medical condition or disorders

Locations (1)

Seoul National University Hospital

Seoul, South Korea

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)

changes in psychopathology To assess a patient using PANSS, an approximately 45-minute clinical interview is conducted. The patient is rated from 1 to 7 on 30 different symptoms based on the interview as well as reports of family members or primary care hospital workers