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AzTrials

SchizophreniaPhase 3NCT01015001

A Pilot Double-blind Sham-controlled Trial of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Patients With Refractory Schizophrenia Treated With Clozapine

A Phase 3 study testing (1Hz) rTMS applied over the left temporoparietal cortex in people with Schizophrenia and Auditory Hallucinations, run by Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre at 1 site in Brazil.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The primary outcome of this study is to evaluate the effects of low frequency subthreshold repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation applied to the left temporoparietal cortex of patients with refractory schizophrenia on the severity of auditory hallucinations. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Schizophrenia, Auditory Hallucinations
What is being tested?
(1Hz) rTMS applied over the left temporoparietal cortex
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
20 participants
Where
1 siteBrazil
Study dates
May 2008to Dec 2009
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients with DSM IV TR diagnose of schizophrenia with treatment-resistant auditory hallucinations.
  • Use of at least 400mg/day of clozapine
  • Men and women from 18 to 65 years old
  • Fertile women must be using adequate contraceptive method
  • BPRS score of at least 27

Who cannot join

  • Suicide risk
  • Patients with epilepsy, brain surgery and/or head trauma in the past, use of cardiac pace maker or metalic clip in the head
  • Diagnose of substance abuse/dependance
  • Severe uncontrolled organic disease that may interfere in the patient´s participation in the study
  • Any other reason that, in the investigator´s opinion, might interfere with the patient´s participation in the study, such as non compliance.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Brazil1 site
  • Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre

    Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul

Other trials in Brazil

About this study

The primary outcome of this study is to evaluate the effects of low frequency subthreshold repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation applied to the left temporoparietal cortex of patients with refractory schizophrenia on the severity of auditory hallucinations.

The secondary outcome is to evaluate the effects of the same rTMS protocol on quality of life, functionality and general psychopathology.

Read the detailed description

Seventeen patients with DSM-IV TR diagnosis of schizophrenia were randomized in two groups. First group received 20 sessions of 20 minutes each of low-frequency (1Hz) rTMS applied over the left temporoparietal cortex (LTPC).

Second group received sham (placebo) stimulation over the LTPC for the same period of time. All patients were considered as having refractory schizophrenia and in use of at least 400mg/day of clozapine and refering auditory hallucinations occuring at least 5 times a day.

Being tested
Active rTMS x sham (placebo) rTMS, sham rTMS, (1Hz) rTMS applied over the left temporoparietal cortex
Keywords
refractory schizophrenia, rTMS, auditory hallucinations
Medical subject headings
Schizophrenia, Hallucinations, Schizophrenia, Treatment-Resistant

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Active rTMS x sham (placebo) rTMSProcedure or surgery

    Also called EMTr

    Seventeen right-handed patients with DSM-IV TR diagnosis of schizophrenia were randomized in two groups. One arm received 20 sessions of 20 minutes each of low-frequency (1Hz) rTMS applied over the left temporoparietal cortex (LTPC).

    The other arm received sham (placebo) stimulation over the LTPC for the same period of time. All patients were considered as having refractory schizophrenia and in use of at least 400mg/day of clozapine and referred auditory hallucinations.

  • sham rTMSProcedure or surgery

    Also called Sham

    same coil, same number of pulses but using an angled coil(90degres) over the frontotemporal region

  • (1Hz) rTMS applied over the left temporoparietal cortexProcedure or surgery

    20 sessions lasting 20 minutes each of low-frequency (1Hz) rTMS applied over the left temporoparietal cortex (LTPC).

Study groups in NCT01015001
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Active rTMSActive comparator1Hz rTMS sessions applied to the left temporoparietal cortex of the subjects
Receives: Procedure: Active rTMS x sham (placebo) rTMS; Procedure: (1Hz) rTMS applied over the left temporoparietal cortex
Sham rtmsPlacebo comparatorSame number of pulses but applied with and angled coil (90 degrees) and placed over the fronto´temporal region
Receives: Procedure: Active rTMS x sham (placebo) rTMS; Procedure: sham rTMS

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Evaluate the effects of low frequency repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation applied over the left temporoparietal cortex of refractory schizophrenic patients on the severity of auditory hallucinations.

    Measured: 2 years

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. The secondary outcomes are to evaluate the effects of the same rTMS protocol on their quality of life, functionality and general psychopathology.

    Measured: 2 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted17 Nov 2009 (estimated)
  2. Study startMay 2008
  3. Primary completionDec 2009
  4. Study completionDec 2009

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
20 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01015001
Sponsor's protocol ID
06382
Status last verified
Aug 2010
First submitted
10 Nov 2009
Last updated
12 Aug 2010
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing (1Hz) rTMS applied over the left temporoparietal cortex in people with Schizophrenia and Auditory Hallucinations, run by Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre at 1 site in Brazil.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Aug 2010. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Brazil. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Evaluate the effects of low frequency repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation applied over the left temporoparietal cortex of refractory schizophrenic patients on the severity of auditory hallucinations. (time frame: 2 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Aug 2010.

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