Multi-target TMS for Schizophrenia Negative Symptoms
China64 participantsStarted 2026-05-01
Plain-language summary
This randomized controlled trial (RCT) is the first to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a multi-target TMS protocol targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC), left inferior parietal lobule (L-IPL), and right orbitofrontal cortex (R-OFC) for negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Who can participate
Age range16 Years – 45 Years
SexALL
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Inclusion criteria
✓. Outpatients or inpatients at the Department of Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center;
✓. Meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria for first-episode schizophrenia (diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5, SCID-5); disease duration less than 5 years at enrollment;
✓. Male or female aged 16-45 years;
✓. Education duration ≥ 9 years;
✓. Stable medication regimen for at least 6 weeks prior to baseline visit and throughout the study period; psychiatric symptoms generally stable within 1 month prior to baseline visit;
✓. Participants and their guardians can understand and sign written informed consent;
✓. Total score on the PANSS Negative Symptom subscale (PANSS-N) \> 15, and at least one item score ≥ 3.
Exclusion criteria
✕. Current or lifetime psychiatric disorders as determined by SCID-5 assessment;
✕. Severe or unstable physical illnesses, including: neurological disorders (delirium, dementia, stroke, epilepsy, migraine, etc.), congestive heart failure, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, malignant tumors, and immunocompromised conditions;
✕. Alcohol abuse within 30 days prior to the study or alcohol/drug dependence within 6 months prior to the study; participation in any clinical trial within 30 days prior to baseline;
What they're measuring
1
Change in severity of negative symptoms before and after TBS intervention, i.e., change in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale - Negative subscale (PANSS-N)
Timeframe: Negative symptoms will be measured at baseline (Day-4±2), immediately after the 50th session of TBS (Day 14), and at 1 week (Day 21), 2 weeks (Day 28), and 4 weeks ( Day 42) after completion of TBS treatment.