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Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Persistent Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Schizophrenia

NCT04222582 · Status: UNKNOWN · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 84

Last updated 2020-01-10

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Many individuals with schizophrenia struggle with auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs). In some cases, these AVHs can be resistant to medication treatment. Previous research has found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can be helpful in treating symptoms in individuals with other psychiatric disorders, such as depression. This study will assess if tDCS is effective in treating AVHs in individuals with schizophrenia. tDCS is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation which uses a weak current to temporarily excite or inhibit underlying cortical regions with small electrodes placed on the scalp. tDCS has been found to improve mental processes, including attention and memory function. In addition to examining the effect of tDCS on AVHs, this study will assess the effects of tDCS on mood as well as brain electrical activity with electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. As an additional component, participants will be invited to participate in neuroimaging. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), brain activity and structure will be examined before and after tDCS. tDCS will be administered twice daily for 5 consecutive days for a total of 10 sessions. These study findings will contribute to the understanding of the impact of tDCS on AVHs, and will also increase knowledge of sound and memory/cognitive processing in individuals with schizophrenia.

Conditions

  • Auditory Hallucination, Verbal

Interventions

DEVICE

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation which uses a weak current (2mA direct current) to temporarily excite or inhibit underlying brain regions with small electrodes placed on the scalp.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

    collaborator OTHER

  • University of Ottawa

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Verner Knott, PhD, C.Psych · University of Ottawa

  • Natalia Jaworska, PhD · University of Ottawa

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2019-01-01
Primary Completion
2021-01-31
Completion
2021-01-31

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

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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 NCT04222582 on ClinicalTrials.gov