TDCS for Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia
Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Schizophrenia
In brief
The purpose of the present research is to test a potential new treatment for auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia that uses transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), a neurostimulation technique that passes an extremely weak electric current through the brain. During the treatment, two electrodes are positioned on the scalp above regions of the brain implicated in abnormal cortical activity associated with auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia. Due to the directional flow of current, one electrode, termed "cathodal",inhibits cortical activity, and the other, termed "anodal", increases cortical activity. These electrodes will be placed such that cathodal stimulation is applied to an area associated with hyperactivity and anodal stimulation to an area associated with hypoactivity. One preliminary study has revealed that this form of neurostimulation can alleviate auditory verbal hallucination symptoms both immediately following five days of treatment and up to three months after the final treatment. The goal of this study is to replicate these effects and explore the mechanisms that may underpin them.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT01898299
- Run by
- New York State Psychiatric Institute
- People needed
- 89
- Starts
- 2013-05-01
- Expected to finish
- 2018-08-14
- Last updated by the study team
- 2020-03-23
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Age between 18-55
- Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID) primary diagnosis of DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Version IV) schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
- Persistent auditory verbal hallucinations
- Right handed
- Stable antipsychotic medication for > 4 weeks
- Normal hearing
- If female and not infertile, must agree to use one of the following forms of contraception for the duration of study participation: systemic hormonal treatment, an interuterine device (IUD) which was implanted at least 2 months prior to screening, or "double-barrier" contraception
- Willing/capacity to provide informed consent
You may not qualify if…
- Substance dependence or abuse (excluding nicotine) in the past 90 days
- Current significant laboratory abnormality
- History of seizure, epilepsy in self or fist degree relatives, stroke, brain surgery, head injury with loss of consciousness > 1 hour or clear cognitive sequelae, intracranial metal implants, known structural brain lesion, devices that may be affected by transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) (pacemaker, medication pump, cochlear implant, implanted brain stimulator)
- Frequent and persistent migraines
- History of adverse reaction to neurostimulation or open skin wounds that would preclude safe placement of tDCS electrodes
- Participation in study of investigational medication/device within 4 weeks
- Current use of medications known to lower seizure threshold (lithium, serotonergic or tricyclic antidepressants)
- If female, pregnant or breast feeding at the time of screening
- For MRI study only: Claustrophobia or metal implants or paramagnetic objects contained within the body which may interfere with the MRI scan, as determined according to the guidelines set forth in the following reference book: "Guide to MR procedures and metallic objects" Shellock, PhD, Lippincott-Raven press, NY 1998
Where it is running
- New York State Psychiatric Institute — New York, New York, United States
- Nathan Kline Institute — Orangeburg, New York, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.