Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of chronic negative schizophrenia: a pilot study

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry Vol. 67; no. 1; pp. 129 - 130
• Main Authors: COHEN, E, BERNARDO, M, MASANA, J, ARRUFAT, F J, NAVARRO, V, VALLS-SOLÉ, J, BOGET, T, BARRANTES, N, CATARINEU, S, FONT, M, LOMEÑA, F J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01-07-1999; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Brain - diagnostic imaging; Chronic Disease; Humans; Letters to the Editor; Neuropsychological Tests; Patients; Pilot Projects; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - therapy; Schizophrenic Psychology; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.67.1.129

Recently, a new technology known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (RTMS) has been developed. 1 In 1994, the use of magnetic stimulation in clinical psychiatry was suggested. 2 Since then, it has been used in the study or treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, conversion disorder, schizophrenia, and particularly, depression. 3 Our pilot study aimed to assess the possible adverse effects of this treatment in chronic schizophrenic patients with severe negative symptoms; to evaluate if direct RTMS of the prefrontal cortex might improve negative symptoms or cognitive impairments 4 in patients with chronic schizophrenia; and thirdly, to note if RTMS might modify the deficit in prefrontal cortical activity, often referred to as hypofrontality, long established in schizophrenia, 5 specially under conditions of task activation. Exclusion criteria included alcohol or substance abuse dependence disorder in the past 5 years, focal neurological findings, systemic neurological illness, taking cerebral metabolic activator or vasodilator medications, electroconvulsive therapy within 6 months, and significant abnormal findings on laboratory examination.