Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation to Improve Negative Symptoms and Cognition in Schizophrenia

NCT ID: NCT06740747

Last Updated: 2025-07-20

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-04-08

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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The planned randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind, monocentric study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (iTBS) on negative symptoms and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Both the cerebellar vermis and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex will be stimulated successively within the same session.

The goal of this trial is to learn if intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) of the cerebellum and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortext (DLPFC) can treat negative symptoms and improve cognition in patients with schizophrenia. The main question it aims to answer is:

Does iTBS of the cerebellum and the left DLPFC improve negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia? Researchers will compare iTBS to sham stimulation to see if iTBS improves negative symptoms.

Participants will:

* Receive 10 sessions of iTBS over the course of 2 weeks
* Undergo extensive examination before iTBS treatment, immediately after iTBS treatment and 4 weeks after iTBS treatment. The examination includes assessment of negative symptoms; psychometric assessment of cognition, social cognition, depressive symptoms; functional magnetic resonance imaging; assessment of eye movements; blood and saliva sampling; assessment of adverse events and stimulation associated sensations.

The study thus seeks to determine whether iTBS of the fronto-cerebellar network might improve negative symptoms and cognition by altering the network's functional activity. Additionally, it will investigate whether a pro-inflammatory cytokine profile could affect iTBS outcomes and whether inflammatory markers could be affected by iTBS.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Schizophrenia Patients

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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iTBS

Active intermittent theta-burst stimulation of the cerebellar vermis and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Intermittent theta-burst stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Intermittent theta-burst stimulation, applied sequentially to the cerebellar vermis and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Sham iTBS

Sham intermittent theta-burst stimulation of the cerebellar vermis and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham intermittent theta-burst stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham intermittent theta-burst stimulation, applied sequentially to the cerebellar vermis and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Interventions

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Intermittent theta-burst stimulation

Intermittent theta-burst stimulation, applied sequentially to the cerebellar vermis and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham intermittent theta-burst stimulation

Sham intermittent theta-burst stimulation, applied sequentially to the cerebellar vermis and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Diagnosis of schizophrenia (ICD-10: F20.-)
* Age: 18-65 years
* Ability to give informed consent
* Signed informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria

* Any electronic implants
* Non-MRI-compatible metal implants (e.g., pacemaker, cochlear implant, insulin pump, metal fragment injuries, work in the metal-processing industry)
* Non-TMS-compatible metal implants (compatible items include: earrings, piercings, dental fillings, crowns, implants)
* Claustrophobia
* Epilepsy
* History of traumatic brain injury within the last 3 months
* History of stroke
* Active central nervous system (CNS) infection
* History of CNS infection within the last 3 months
* Pregnancy
* Current drug, medication, or alcohol abuse
* Simultaneous participation in another clinical trial
* Planned changes in psychopharmacological medication within the next 2 weeks
* Severe physical illnesses that could endanger the patient, affect the examinations or make the MRI scanning cause additional burden
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Hannover Medical School

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Schülke, Rasmus Dr.

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Rasmus Schülke, MD (Dr. med.)

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hannover Medical School

Locations

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Hannover Medical School

Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Germany

Central Contacts

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Rasmus Schülke, MD (Dr. med.)

Role: CONTACT

+49 511 532 2039

Facility Contacts

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Rasmus Schülke, MD (Dr. med.)

Role: primary

+49 511 532 2039

Other Identifiers

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11473_BO_S_2024

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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