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Augmentation of Working Memory Training With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Patients With Schizophrenia

NCT03621540 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 37

Last updated 2023-10-06

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Cognitive impairment is a core symptom of schizophrenia and is in a large part responsible for the poor psychosocial outcome of the disorder. The use of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques as a therapeutic option is just commencing for neuropsychiatric patients. Concerning healthy subjects the investigators have previously shown that anodal tDCS to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) parallel to working memory training can sustainingly enhance performance in a spatial n-back task. Additionally, first translational experiments regarding the use of anodal tDCS to improve working memory (WM) in patients with schizophrenia rendered promising results.

On those grounds, the investigators now test the hypothesis that anodal tDCS to the right DLPFC can augment working memory training in patients with schizophrenia.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

active tDCS

Using the NeuroConn Plus tDCS device, 2 mA anodal tDCS will be applied to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F4). 15 s fade in and fade out. Total stimulation time of 1365 s. Cathode over contralateral deltoid muscle.

DEVICE

sham tDCS

Sham mode of the NeuroConn Plus tDCS device with 2 mA stimulation for 45 s at the beginning. Anode over right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F4), Cathode over contralateral deltoid muscle. After that, only continuous impedance checking is performed.

BEHAVIORAL

Adaptive working memory training

Adaptive spatial n-back training.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

    collaborator OTHER_GOV

  • University Hospital Tuebingen

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Andreas J Fallgatter, M.D. · University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Psychiatry

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2018-04-20
Primary Completion
2022-12-30
Completion
2023-05-30

Countries

  • Germany

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03621540 on ClinicalTrials.gov