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A sham-controlled trial of left and right temporal rTMS for the treatment of auditory hallucinations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2009

C. K. Loo ,
K. Sainsbury ,
P. Mitchell ,
D. Hadzi-Pavlovic  and
P. S. Sachdev
C. K. Loo*
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of NSW and Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
K. Sainsbury
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of NSW and Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
P. Mitchell
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of NSW and Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
D. Hadzi-Pavlovic
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of NSW and Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
P. S. Sachdev
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of NSW and Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr C. K. Loo, Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW2031, Australia. (Email: colleen.loo@unsw.edu.au)
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Abstract

Background

Several studies have reported reduction of auditory hallucinations (AH) after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the left temporal cortex. This study explored the effects of rTMS to the left and right temporal cortex.

Method

Eighteen subjects with schizophrenia and frequent AH were enrolled in a double-blind, cross-over trial of 3 days of active rTMS to the left or right temporal cortex, or sham rTMS to the vertex (control condition), followed by an open treatment phase. The effects on AH were assessed by a blinded rater, using the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS).

Results

During the double-blind phase, active temporal rTMS did not result in significantly greater improvement in hallucination scores than sham rTMS to the vertex, apart from a reduction in distress scores. Hallucination scores improved during the open continued treatment phase.

Conclusions

This study did not demonstrate an advantage for left temporal rTMS compared to right temporal and sham stimulation, over a 3-day stimulation period, but found modest improvement in hallucinations during continued open label treatment.

Keywords

Auditory hallucinationsschizophreniatranscranial magnetic stimulationtreatment
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 4 , April 2010 , pp. 541 - 546
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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