Trial Outcomes & Findings for Transcranial Current Stimulation as a Treatment for Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia (NCT NCT01963676)

NCT ID: NCT01963676

Last Updated: 2016-02-22

Results Overview

Examining AHRS total score after 5 days of stimulation compared to baseline assessment total.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

26 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline, Day 5

Results posted on

2016-02-22

Participant Flow

Patients recruited through medical providers. Providers knew inclusion/exclusion criteria and discussed the study with patients during their regular appointments. Interested participants contacted the study team. Participants recruited from the STEP clinic (Chapel Hill and Raleigh), and the Burlington ACT team. Recruitment between 4/14 and 9/14.

Subjects randomly assigned to one of two groups, transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) group or active sham group. tDCS group, direct current was delivered during awake, resting state for 20minutes on 5 consecutive days. Sham stimulation was delivered for an equal period of time and number of sessions. 27 subjects signed consent, 1 withdrew.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
13 subjects total. 2mA stimulation for 20 minutes. tDCS
Sham Stimulation
13 subjects total. An initial 40sec of stimulation at 2mA followed by a small current pulse every 550msec for the remainder of the 20 minute period. Sham stimulation
Overall Study
STARTED
14
13
Overall Study
COMPLETED
13
13
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
1
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
13 subjects total. 2mA stimulation for 20 minutes. tDCS
Sham Stimulation
13 subjects total. An initial 40sec of stimulation at 2mA followed by a small current pulse every 550msec for the remainder of the 20 minute period. Sham stimulation
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
1
0

Baseline Characteristics

Transcranial Current Stimulation as a Treatment for Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
n=13 Participants
13 subjects total. 2mA stimulation for 20 minutes. tDCS
Sham Stimulation
n=13 Participants
13 subjects total. An initial 40sec of stimulation at 2mA followed by a small current pulse every 550msec for the remainder of the 20 minute period. Sham stimulation
Total
n=26 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Sex: Female, Male
Male
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
12 Participants
n=7 Participants
22 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
13 participants
n=5 Participants
13 participants
n=7 Participants
26 participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
13 Participants
n=5 Participants
13 Participants
n=7 Participants
26 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
43.38 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.64 • n=5 Participants
40.00 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.74 • n=7 Participants
41.69 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.62 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale
27.00 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.90 • n=5 Participants
26.69 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.30 • n=7 Participants
26.85 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.48 • n=5 Participants
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
73.15 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.90 • n=5 Participants
66.92 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 17.17 • n=7 Participants
70.04 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.21 • n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, Day 5

Population: Per protocol; All participants who completed every session of the study from the initial session through the one month follow-up.

Examining AHRS total score after 5 days of stimulation compared to baseline assessment total.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
n=13 Participants
13 subjects total. 2mA stimulation for 20 minutes. tDCS
Sham Stimulation
n=13 Participants
13 subjects total. An initial 40sec of stimulation at 2mA followed by a small current pulse every 550msec for the remainder of the 20 minute period. Sham stimulation
Change in Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS)Score From Baseline to Day 5
-6.38 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.38
-8.54 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.68

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Day 5, One month

Population: Per protocol; All participants who completed every session of the study from the initial session through the one month follow-up.

We will re-assess patients one month after the completion of stimulation to evaluate whether their change from baseline to day 5 score on the AHRS persisted over time, namely 30 days.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
n=13 Participants
13 subjects total. 2mA stimulation for 20 minutes. tDCS
Sham Stimulation
n=13 Participants
13 subjects total. An initial 40sec of stimulation at 2mA followed by a small current pulse every 550msec for the remainder of the 20 minute period. Sham stimulation
Persistence of Decrease in AHRS Score Over Time
-5.38 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.06
-4.77 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.26

Adverse Events

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Sham Stimulation

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Flavio Frohlich

UNC Chapel Hill

Phone: (919) 966-4584

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place