Six-month alleviation from negative schizophrenic symptoms after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): a single case study report
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2007 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Psychiatrie |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Psychiatry, sexuology |
| Keywords | negative symptoms; rTMS; schizophrenia; therapy |
| Description | INTRODUCTION: The present trial was designed to (a) investigate the influence of rTMS on negative schizophrenic symptoms using high-frequency stimulation over the left prefrontal cortex and (b) to then consider the stability of any potential improvement of negative symptoms at six months after the rTMS therapy. METHODS: The study was carried out on a 42-year-old schizophrenic patient with prominent negative symptoms who was treated with 10Hz frequency rTMS for three weeks. He was rated before and after rTMS therapy and six months after rTMS therapy for positive, negative and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The rTMS led to a decrease of 35% in total PANSS, 23% in positive PANSS, 40% in negative PANSS, 43% in SANS and no change in CDSS (Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia). The percentage changes in the individual scales six months after rTMS therapy (compared to the scores immediately after rTMS) were as follows: a decrease of 4% in total PANSS, 6% in negative PANSS, 5% in SANS, an increase of 14% in positive PANSS and no change in CDSS. CONCLUSION: High-frequency rTMS applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex led to a reduction in the severity of negative symptoms for a period of at least six months in a patient suffering from schizophrenia. |
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