26 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Hallucinations are a core diagnostic feature of psychotic disorders. They involve different sensory modalities, including auditory, visual, olfactory, tactile, and gustatory hallucinations, among others. Hallucinations occur in multiple different neurological and psychiatric illnesses and can be refractory to existing treatments. Auditory hallucinations and visual hallucinations are found across diagnostic categories of psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar disorder). Despite visual hallucinations being approximately half as frequent as auditory hallucinations, they almost always co-occur with auditory hallucinations, and are linked to a more severe psychopathological profile. Auditory and visual hallucinations at baseline also predict higher disability, risk of relapse and duration of psychosis after 1 and 2 years, especially when they occur in combination. Using a newly validated technique termed lesion network mapping, researchers demonstrated that focal brain lesions connected to the right superior temporal sulcus (rSTS) plays a causal role in the development of hallucinations. The rSTS receives convergent somatosensory, auditory, and visual inputs, and is regarded as a site for multimodal sensory integration. Here the investigators aim to answer the question whether noninvasive brain stimulation when optimally targeted to the rSTS can improve brain activity, sensory integration, and hallucinations.
Auditory hallucinations are among the most distressing aspects of psychotic illness, and between 10 and 30% of people with hallucinations do not respond to antipsychotic medications. The authors have used computational modeling of behavior to link brain activity to development of auditory hallucinations in the hope of guiding new treatment development. The proposed studies take the first step toward individualized treatment approaches to hallucinations by attempting causal, pharmacological manipulation of relevant model parameters underlying these phenomena.
Neurofeedback intervention aimed to regulate the superior temporal gyrus (STG) activation and default mode network (DMN) connectivity as well as to reduce the auditory hallucinations (AH) schizophrenia patients with medication resistant AH.
The primary purpose of this study was to conduct fMRI neuroimaging studies prior to and subsequent to the rTMS intervention. The intent was to ascertain changes in regional brain activation and connectivity that most robustly predict level of improvement in auditory hallucinations elicited by bilateral rTMS as assessed by the primary outcome variables.
The purpose of this study is to address the shortcoming in clinical hallucination research by causally manipulating the neural loci of conditioned hallucination task behavior in-person in patients with psychosis using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), tracking the impact of this manipulation on the number of times participants with hallucinations report hearing tones that were not presented. With such a causal intervention, the veracity of this explanation of hallucinations will be either validated or disconfirmed. If validated, the task can be further developed as a biomarker for predicting the hallucination onset, guiding, developing or tracking the effects of treatments for hallucinations.
This is a 4 week therapeutic pilot study with a 4 week follow-up period involving inpatients with treatment resistant DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder diagnosis. Each eligible subject will receive either 20 minutes of active tDCS (transcranial direct-current stimulation) or sham stimulation twice a day on 5 consecutive weekdays for 4 weeks with a 4 week follow-up period.
Investigating the effects of non-invasive transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) as a treatment for auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia.
Youths diagnosed with early onset schizophrenia will demonstrate amelioration of auditory hallucinations after one week of twice daily treatment with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
Investigating the effects of non-invasive transcranial current stimulation as a treatment for auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia.
The overarching goal of this project is to expand the traditional expertise in non-invasive neuromodulation at the University of Minnesota towards developing novel neuromodulation approaches using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for treating schizophrenia patients with medication-resistant auditory hallucinations. The investigators will use tDCS to stimulate prefrontal cortex. TDCS is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that can modulate brain connectivity. Non-invasive brain neuromodulation will be combined (paired-neuromodulation) with training of a task that requires top-down control of auditory processes. Paired-neuromodulation can potentially be used as a therapeutic intervention to decrease auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.
This is a randomized controlled trial, examining the effects of a computerized, internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Intervention for persons with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder who experience distressing auditory hallucinations (voices). Participants are randomized to one of two conditions: either to receive the 10-session computer-based program on a weekly basis, or to their usual care at their mental health clinic. This study takes place at Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge Massachusetts. It is hypothesized that the participants who participate in the CBT program will have significant improvements in the severity of their auditory hallucinations, as well as their associated distress, compared to the participants receiving usual care.
Investigating the effect of non-invasive transcranial current stimulation on auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia. Normal neuronal activity is perturbed in schizophrenia, so selective targeting of this abnormal activity could serve as a treatment for schizophrenia and alleviate symptoms caused by abnormal neuronal activity, such as auditory hallucinations.
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 neurostimulation technique that passes an extremely weak electric current through the brain. During the treatment, two electrodes are positioned on the scalp above regions of the brain implicated in abnormal cortical activity associated with auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia. Due to the directional flow of current, one electrode, termed "cathodal",inhibits cortical activity, and the other, termed "anodal", increases cortical activity. These electrodes will be placed such that cathodal stimulation is applied to an area associated with hyperactivity and anodal stimulation to an area associated with hypoactivity. One preliminary study has revealed that this form of neurostimulation can alleviate auditory verbal hallucination symptoms both immediately following five days of treatment and up to three months after the final treatment. The goal of this study is to replicate these effects and explore the mechanisms that may underpin them.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a new noninvasive therapy that uses magnetic energy applied to the scalp to modulate activity in the underlying regions of the brain. In this study we will examine the efficacy of treating auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia with rTMS, comparing two methods to target stimulation to a language processing region of the brain. One method targets the stimulation site using scalp landmarks, while the other uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) combined with a language task.
This trial is designed to determine if administering repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) simultaneously to two sites in the temporal lobes, one on the left and one on the right, produces greater improvements in "voices" and other symptoms of schizophrenia compared to rTMS given to just one site in the temporal lobes.
The goal of the project is to characterize abnormalities in brain structure and function related to schizophrenia. The investigators will use advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to measure the degree and distribution of neuronal activity during specific cognitive tasks, alterations in neuronal connectivity, and how these are related to disease symptoms and treatment.
This study will evaluate the long-term effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with auditory hallucinations.
The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate neural markers of target engagement to further develop auditory control enhancement (ACE) as a novel, inexpensive, and noninvasive intervention to address treatment-refractory auditory hallucinations. Here, we will address questions about the feasibility and acceptability of ACE, as well as the degree to which ACE results in measurable engagement of biophysical and neurophysiological targets. Participants will complete: * Auditory Control Enhancement (ACE): Participants will be assigned by chance (such as a coin flip) into one of two groups to receive a different dosage or level of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) during three sessions of cognitive training. tDCS is used to stimulate the brain for a short period of time. For tDCS one or two thin wet sponges are placed on the head and/or upper arm. The sponges will be connected to electrodes which will deliver a very weak electrical current. The Neuroelectrics Starstim 32 will be used to deliver tDCS. * Interviews: Before and after ACE, in two separate sessions, participants will be asked questions about a) background; b) functioning in daily life and across different phases of your life and past, present and future medical records. * Cognitive Tests: During the interview sessions, participants will also perform cognitive tests. Participants will be asked to complete computerized and pen-and-paper tests of attention, concentration, reading, and problem-solving ability. * EEG scan: Participants will be asked to complete EEG (electroencephalography) studies before and after ACE training. EEG will be measured using the same Neuroelectrics Starstim 32 system used for tDCS. EEG measures the natural activity of the brain using small sensors placed on the scalp. These sensors use conductive gel to provide a connection suitable for recording brain activity. During EEG, participants will watch a silent video while sounds are played over headphones, or sometimes count the sounds. In addition to these auditory tasks, participants will also be asked to perform visual attention tasks, such pressing a button for a letter or image. * Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan: Participants will also be asked to complete MRI studies before and after ACE training. An MRI is a type of brain scan that takes pictures of the brain that will later be used to create a 3D model of the brain. The MRI does not use radiation, but rather radio waves, a large magnet and a computer to create the images. Researchers will compare individuals receiving ACE to those receiving sham tDCS during cognitive training to determine effects of ACE.
This is a randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind clinical trial. The investigators aim to examine the safety and efficacy of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for the treatment of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) in patients with schizophrenia who are not taking antipsychotic medication. The investigators employ a novel, accelerated protocol with only four sessions of low-frequency rTMS in one day. The effects of this accelerated protocol will be compared to the sham stimulation. Additionally, the investigators will examine the effects of rTMS on a neurophysiological level by evaluating mechanism of action in the temporo-parietal lobe by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging.
The purpose of this study is to test the impact of non-invasive brain stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), on auditory hallucinations, negative symptoms and cognition in schizophrenia. Clinical measures will be used to assess clinical symptoms and cognitive performance to test the hypothesis that a course of tDCS can reduce auditory hallucinations and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
The purpose of the study was to determine in patients currently being administered antipsychotic pharmacotherapy whether PEAR-004 could further reduce symptoms of schizophrenia as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The overall rationale for the study was to assess the first prescription digital therapeutic (PDT) in schizophrenia using a form of proven psychosocial intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to supplement standard of care with antipsychotic medications.
Auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia are one of the major symptoms of this disease and a major source of psychological discomfort. They are often difficult or impossible to treat with existing methods. This study will test the use of real-time fMRI neurofeedback to mitigate auditory verbal hallucinations in patients whose hallucinations are resistant to medication. Half of the patients will receive real time fMRI neurofeedback from a brain region involved in auditory hallucinations and half will receive it from motor cortex.
This study compares the efficacy of low and high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a means of treating subjects with schizophrenia. Magnetic pulses delivered over the scalp cause brain activity. This activity has been shown to help decrease the intensity and frequency of auditory hallucinations (AH) in schizophrenia. The investigators will compare whether low or high frequencies work best. The investigators will also examine what changes occur in the brain that are related to improvement.
This study will determine the efficacy of MRI-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)in reducing "voices" and other symptoms experienced by people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. In addition, the study will determine duration of improvement obtained during the course of trial participation via on-going monthly contact with study participants for up to 1 year after the trial.
The Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a type of brain stimulation that uses a magnet to change activity in the brain. rTMS uses magnetic pulses to induce an electrical current in the brain to alter brain activity and function in specific areas. For example, stimulating the part of the brain controlling movement will cause parts of the foot or leg to twitch. TMS is proposed as a novel treatment for people with schizophrenia. The investigators want to see if low frequency rTMS can lessen some of the symptoms of schizophrenia, specifically auditory verbal hallucinations. Auditory verbal hallucinations describe the experience of hearing voices that are not really there.
This is an open-label extension study to continue to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of the Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who previously completed the treatment study of the protocol #8116 (NCT05319080). Protocol #8116 investigates the clinical efficacy of open-label individualized MRI-guided TMS applied to the left temporoparietal junction (TPJ) in schizophrenia patients. Participating patients who have completed the 4-week project #8116 can be screened for eligibility for this extension study in which they will continue treatment/assessment. They will be divided into three groups (non-responders, partial responders, or full responders) based on a reduction in the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS) scores from the study #8116.