Status:

COMPLETED

TDCS for Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia

Lead Sponsor:

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Collaborating Sponsors:

Stanley Medical Research Institute

Conditions:

Schizophrenia

Eligibility:

All Genders

18-55 years

Phase:

NA

Brief Summary

The purpose of the present research is to test a potential new treatment for auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia that uses transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), a neurostimulatio...

Detailed Description

90 patients with persistent auditory verbal hallucinations will be recruited to this study. Each individual will participate in behavioral assessments lasting up to 3 hours each and will then be rando...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Age between 18-55
  • Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID) primary diagnosis of DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Version IV) schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
  • Persistent auditory verbal hallucinations
  • Right handed
  • Stable antipsychotic medication for \> 4 weeks
  • Normal hearing
  • If female and not infertile, must agree to use one of the following forms of contraception for the duration of study participation: systemic hormonal treatment, an interuterine device (IUD) which was implanted at least 2 months prior to screening, or "double-barrier" contraception
  • Willing/capacity to provide informed consent

Exclusion

  • Substance dependence or abuse (excluding nicotine) in the past 90 days
  • Current significant laboratory abnormality
  • History of seizure, epilepsy in self or fist degree relatives, stroke, brain surgery, head injury with loss of consciousness \> 1 hour or clear cognitive sequelae, intracranial metal implants, known structural brain lesion, devices that may be affected by transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) (pacemaker, medication pump, cochlear implant, implanted brain stimulator)
  • Frequent and persistent migraines
  • History of adverse reaction to neurostimulation or open skin wounds that would preclude safe placement of tDCS electrodes
  • Participation in study of investigational medication/device within 4 weeks
  • Current use of medications known to lower seizure threshold (lithium, serotonergic or tricyclic antidepressants)
  • If female, pregnant or breast feeding at the time of screening
  • For MRI study only: Claustrophobia or metal implants or paramagnetic objects contained within the body which may interfere with the MRI scan, as determined according to the guidelines set forth in the following reference book: "Guide to MR procedures and metallic objects" Shellock, PhD, Lippincott-Raven press, NY 1998

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

May 1 2013

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ACTUAL

End Date :

August 14 2018

Estimated Enrollment :

89 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT01898299

Start Date

May 1 2013

End Date

August 14 2018

Last Update

March 23 2020

Active Locations (2)

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Page 1 of 1 (2 locations)

1

New York State Psychiatric Institute

New York, New York, United States, 10032

2

Nathan Kline Institute

Orangeburg, New York, United States, 10962