TMS Enhancement of Visual Plasticity in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia Clinical Trial

Official title:

Testing TMS Enhancement of Visual Plasticity in Schizophrenia

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Terminated

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03220438
• Other study ID #: HP-00072640
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 27, 2017
• Est. completion date: July 16, 2019

Study information

• Verified date: September 2021
• Source: University of Maryland, Baltimore
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The major goal is to determine if Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) enhances visual plasticity in schizophrenia. TMS sessions (sham/placebo and real TMS) will be conducted before two MRI scans with two weeks in-between to assess whether TMS stimulation to the visual cortex will enhance visual plasticity in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. This project may provide a better understanding of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms responsible for learning and memory deficits in schizophrenia.

Description:

Learning and memory impairments are commonly observed in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Alterations in "long-term potentiation" (LTP), a basic mechanism underlying learning and memory, may explain this impairment. This project will assess fMRI visual plasticity, thought to reflect LTP, in participants with and without schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Previous studies have shown that visual plasticity is impaired in schizophrenia. The major goal is to determine if Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) enhances visual plasticity in schizophrenia. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) provides a non-invasive means for altering brain electrical neural activity. TMS sessions (sham/placebo and real TMS) will be conducted before two MRI scans with two weeks in-between to assess whether TMS stimulation to the visual cortex will enhance visual plasticity in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. This project may provide a better understanding of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms responsible for learning and memory deficits in schizophrenia.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Terminated
• Enrollment: 17
• Est. completion date: July 16, 2019
• Est. primary completion date: July 16, 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age: 18-65,

2. no neurological illness, head trauma, or major medical illness,

3. not pregnant or nursing,

4. no contraindication for TMS or MRI scanning,

5. no current substance abuse/dependence. Healthy controls will have no DSM-5 diagnosis and no first-degree relatives with a psychotic disorder.

Inclusion criteria for patients includes:

1. DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophreniform, schizophrenia or schizoaffective and competent to sign an informed consent,

2. not currently taking other medications that affects brain structure (e.g. steroids),

3. less than 12 months antipsychotic exposure and on the same psychotropic medications for 4 weeks prior to study,

4. not be taking clozapine (due to its effects on NMDA receptors and increase of seizure threshold),

5. clinically stable (i.e. no change in psychotic symptoms for at least 4 weeks).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. age outside of 18-65,

2. neurological illness, head trauma, or major medical illness,

3. pregnant or nursing,

4. contraindication for TMS or MRI scanning,

5. current substance abuse/dependence,

6. currently taking medications that affects brain structure (e.g. steroids). Healthy controls with a DSM-5 diagnosis and/or a first-degree relative with a psychotic disorder. Participants with schizophrenia that are not competent to sign an informed consent, have more than 12 months antipsychotic exposure, not on the same psychotropic medications for 4 weeks prior to study, taking clozapine, and not clinically stable (i.e.a change in psychotic symptoms for at least 4 weeks).

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Schizophrenia

Intervention

Device:
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Maryland	Baltimore	Maryland

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	fMRI BOLD response of visual plasticity	fMRI BOLD response of visual plasticity	4 hours
Secondary	MRS assessment of glutamate	occipital cortical glutamate levels	4 hours