High frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenic patients

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been tried therapeu tically in major depression. In order to investigate the therapeutic effica cy of rTMS in psychotic patients, 12 participants (four women, eight men) w ith schizophrenia according to DSM-IV criteria, aged 25 to 63 years (mean ( +/-s.d) 40.4 +/- 11.0), were enrolled in the study. Following a double-blin d crossover design, patients were treated at random with 2 weeks of daily l eft prefrontal rTMS (20 2 s 20 Hz stimulations at 80% motor threshold over 20 min, dorsolateral preforntal cortex) and 2 weeks of sham stimulation. Th e Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale decreased under active rTMS (p < 0.05), wh ereas depressive symptoms (BDI) and anxiety (STAI) did not change significa ntly. Prefrontal rTMS might be effective in the non-pharmacological treatme nt of psychotic patients. NeuroReport 11:4013-4015 (C) 2000 Lippincott Will iams & Wilkins.