Schizophrenia With Auditory HallucinationsNCT07798804
Frequency- and Intensity-Dependent After-Effects of High-Definition Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Resting-State Electroencephalography
A study testing high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) in people with Schizophrenia With Auditory Hallucinations, run by Shanghai Mental Health Center at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This study aims to investigate the after-effects of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) with varying parameters on resting-state brain activity in patients with schizophrenia experiencing auditory hallucinations. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Schizophrenia With Auditory Hallucinations
- What is being tested?
- high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 5 Dec 2025to 15 Feb 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 to 65 years;
- Meet the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5);
- Adequate verbal communication skills;
- At least one auditory hallucination episode within the past week;
- Willing to participate in the study and able to complete all trial procedures.
Who cannot join
- History of neurological disorders, severe physical illness, traumatic brain injury, or craniotomy;
- History of epileptic seizures or other neuropsychiatric disorders;
- At risk for suicide, self-injury, or impulsive behavior.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Frequency- and Intensity-Dependent After-Effects of High-Definition Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Resting-State Electroencephalography in Patients With Auditory Hallucinations and Healthy Controls
This study aims to investigate the after-effects of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) with varying parameters on resting-state brain activity in patients with schizophrenia experiencing auditory hallucinations.
- Being tested
- high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS), sham high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)Device
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe. The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity. Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol. A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition. The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal. Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes. Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
sham high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)Device
The sham intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe. The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity. To mimic the sensory experience of active stimulation, the sham condition includes a 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period at 0.4 mA and 140 Hz, with no current delivered during the intervening 90-second period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 0.4mA-10Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 0.4mA-10Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| 0.4mA-20Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 0.4mA-20Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 20 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| 0.4mA-40Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 0.4mA-40Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 20 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| 0.4mA-140Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 0.4mA-140Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| 1mA-10Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 1mA-10Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| 1mA-20Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 1mA-20Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| 1mA-40Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 1mA-40Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| 1mA-140Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 1mA-140Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| 2mA-10Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 2mA-10Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| 2mA-20Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 2mA-20Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| 2mA-40Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 2mA-40Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| 2mA-140Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | For 2mA-140Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. Receives: Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
| sham HD-tACS | Experimental | For sham HD-tACS, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel using sham HD-tACS pattern. Receives: Device: sham high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Beta2-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Changes in EEG power(dB) in beta2 band within different frequency band measured at the temporal lobe during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
Measured: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Secondary outcomes (9)
Alpha-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Changes in EEG power(dB) in alpha band within different frequency band measured at the temporal lobe during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
Measured: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Delta-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Changes in EEG power(dB) in delta band within different frequency band measured at the temporal lobe during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
Measured: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Theta-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Changes in EEG power(dB) in theta band within different frequency band measured at the temporal lobe during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
Measured: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Gamma-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Changes in EEG power(dB) in gamma band within different frequency band measured at the temporal lobe during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
Measured: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Beta2-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Beta2-band functional connectivity between predefined EEG electrodes, quantified using the weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI), during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
Measured: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Alpha-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Alpha-band functional connectivity between predefined EEG electrodes, quantified using the weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI), during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
Measured: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Delta-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Delta-band functional connectivity between predefined EEG electrodes, quantified using the weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI), during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
Measured: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Theta-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Theta-band functional connectivity between predefined EEG electrodes, quantified using the weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI), during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
Measured: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Gamma-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Gamma-band functional connectivity between predefined EEG electrodes, quantified using the weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI), during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
Measured: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Sep 2026
- Study start5 Dec 2025
- Primary completion11 Feb 2026
- Study completion15 Feb 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Schizophrenia With Auditory HallucinationsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Shanghai Mental Health CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Shanghai Mental Health Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Haifeng Jiang, Shanghai Mental Health Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07798804
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HFJiang-006
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 1 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be made publicly available because of privacy and confidentiality considerations related to the collection of electrophysiological data from human participants.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Frequency- and Intensity-Dependent After-Effects of High-Definition Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Resting-State Electroencephalography in Patients With Auditory Hallucinations and Healthy Controls
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07798804
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HFJiang-006
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Shanghai Mental Health CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 11 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Feb 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to investigate the after-effects of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) with varying parameters on resting-state brain activity in patients with schizophrenia experiencing auditory hallucinations.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, care provider)
- Number of arms
- 13
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 0.4mA-10Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 0.4mA-10Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| 0.4mA-20Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 0.4mA-20Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 20 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| 0.4mA-40Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 0.4mA-40Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 20 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| 0.4mA-140Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 0.4mA-140Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| 1mA-10Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 1mA-10Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| 1mA-20Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 1mA-20Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| 1mA-40Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 1mA-40Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| 1mA-140Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 1mA-140Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| 2mA-10Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 2mA-10Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| 2mA-20Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 2mA-20Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| 2mA-40Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 2mA-40Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| 2mA-140Hz HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For 2mA-140Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA. |
| sham HD-tACS | Experimental | Device: sham high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)For sham HD-tACS, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel using sham HD-tACS pattern. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age 18 to 65 years;
- Meet the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5);
- Adequate verbal communication skills;
- At least one auditory hallucination episode within the past week;
- Willing to participate in the study and able to complete all trial procedures.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- History of neurological disorders, severe physical illness, traumatic brain injury, or craniotomy;
- History of epileptic seizures or other neuropsychiatric disorders;
- At risk for suicide, self-injury, or impulsive behavior.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe. The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity. Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol. A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition. The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal. Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes. Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session. | Device | 0.4mA-10Hz HD-tACS, 0.4mA-140Hz HD-tACS, 0.4mA-20Hz HD-tACS, 0.4mA-40Hz HD-tACS, 1mA-10Hz HD-tACS, 1mA-140Hz HD-tACS, 1mA-20Hz HD-tACS, 1mA-40Hz HD-tACS, 2mA-10Hz HD-tACS, 2mA-140Hz HD-tACS, 2mA-20Hz HD-tACS, 2mA-40Hz HD-tACS |
| sham high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS)The sham intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe. The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity. To mimic the sensory experience of active stimulation, the sham condition includes a 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period at 0.4 mA and 140 Hz, with no current delivered during the intervening 90-second period. | Device | sham HD-tACS |
Primary outcome
Beta2-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Time frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Changes in EEG power(dB) in beta2 band within different frequency band measured at the temporal lobe during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
9 secondary outcomes
Alpha-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Time frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Delta-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Time frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Theta-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Time frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Gamma-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Time frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Beta2-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Time frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Alpha-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Time frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Delta-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Time frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Theta-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Time frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Gamma-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Time frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be made publicly available because of privacy and confidentiality considerations related to the collection of electrophysiological data from human participants.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation(HD-tACS) in people with Schizophrenia With Auditory Hallucinations, run by Shanghai Mental Health Center at 1 site in China.
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 3 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 1 Sep 2026. 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 China. 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. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
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?
Beta2-band EEG power at the stimulation site (time frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation). 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 1 Sep 2026.