Magnetic Seizure Therapy for Schizophrenia

(MAST Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Daniel Blumberger, MD., MSc.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Must be taking: Antipsychotics

Must not be taking: Benzodiazepines, Anticonvulsants

Disqualifiers: Substance use disorder, Unstable illness, Pregnancy, Dementia, Neurological disorder, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 5-7 weeks

80 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) offers a better option than electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for individuals with Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia (RS). The researchers aim to determine if MST is both effective and easier to tolerate for those who haven't succeeded with other treatments. Individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder for at least two years, who haven't responded well to at least two different antipsychotic medications, might be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to investigate a potentially more tolerable treatment option before it becomes widely available.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you keep your current antipsychotic treatment constant during the acute phase of the intervention. However, if you are taking a benzodiazepine at a dose higher than lorazepam 2 mg/day or any anticonvulsant, you may need to stop or adjust those medications.

What prior data suggests that Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) is safe for treating schizophrenia?

Research has shown that Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) is safe for people with schizophrenia. Early studies found that MST is generally well-tolerated, with patients experiencing fewer issues with thinking and memory compared to those undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A detailed review confirmed that MST is a safe method for brain stimulation. Some research suggests that MST is less likely to damage brain areas important for emotions and memory. Overall, MST appears to be a promising and safer option for treating schizophrenia that does not respond to other treatments. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike the standard treatment for schizophrenia, which typically includes antipsychotic medications and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) offers a novel approach by using magnetic fields instead of electrical currents to induce therapeutic seizures. Researchers are excited about MST because it targets brain areas more precisely, potentially reducing side effects like memory loss associated with ECT. Additionally, MST's controlled magnetic pulses aim to deliver a gentler and more focused treatment, which could improve patient comfort and outcomes.

What evidence suggests that Magnetic Seizure Therapy is effective for Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia?

This trial will compare Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) with Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for schizophrenia. Research has shown that MST might be a promising option for individuals with schizophrenia who haven't responded to other treatments. Studies have found that MST can reduce schizophrenia symptoms with fewer side effects than traditional ECT. MST uses magnetic pulses instead of electric currents, potentially leading to fewer issues like memory loss. Early results suggest that MST can improve mood and lessen psychotic symptoms. While research continues, MST is believed to more precisely target brain areas involved in mood and thinking.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Daniel Blumberger, MD

Principal Investigator

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia, meaning their condition hasn't improved after trying other treatments. Participants should be able to undergo procedures like Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) or Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder for over 2 years.

My mental health assessment shows moderate to severe symptoms in areas like hallucinations or suspicion.

I am mentally capable of understanding and consenting to participate in research.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients with an intracranial implant (e.g., aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes) or any other metal object within or near the head, excluding the mouth, that cannot be safely removed

I don't take more than 2 mg/day of lorazepam or its equivalent.

Patients with a history of MINI diagnosis of a substance use disorder (other than nicotine and caffeine) within the past three months

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) or Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) two to three days per week. Treatment continues until response criteria are met or up to 15 sessions.

5-7 weeks

2-3 visits per week (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST)

Trial Overview The study compares the effectiveness and tolerability of two treatments: Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), in patients who have not responded well to standard schizophrenia therapies.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

MST treatments will be administered using the MagPro MST with Cool TwinCoil.

Group II: Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Active Control 1 Intervention

ECT treatments will be administered using the MECTA spECTrum 5000Q or MECTA Sigma.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials

388

Recruited

84,200+

University of British Columbia

Collaborator

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) can induce acute manic symptoms in patients with major depressive episodes, as demonstrated in two cases during an ongoing study of treatment-resistant depression.

Both patients experienced mania after several MST treatments, but their symptoms resolved quickly with medication after stopping the therapy, highlighting the need to monitor for mood changes as a potential side effect of MST.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Magnetic seizure therapy-induced mania: a report of 2 cases. Noda, Y., Daskalakis, ZJ., Fitzgerald, PB., et al.[2015]

Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is as effective as bifrontal electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in treating depression, with response rates of 72.2% for MST compared to 81.5% for ECT, indicating it can be a viable alternative.

MST demonstrated significantly fewer cognitive side effects, showing improvements in immediate and delayed memory and attention, along with shorter recovery times for consciousness and orientation compared to ECT.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Shorter recovery times and better cognitive function-A comparative pilot study of magnetic seizure therapy and electroconvulsive therapy in patients with depressive episodes. Zhang, J., Ren, Y., Jiang, W., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1539008/full

Safety of MST in clinical application: a systematic review ... In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that MST is a safe neuromodulation technique, with some studies suggesting that the stimulation ...

2. bbrfoundation.org bbrfoundation.org/content/trial-indicates-cognitive-safety-advantage-magnetic-seizure-therapy-mst-over

Trial Indicates Cognitive Safety Advantage of Magnetic ... A newly published analysis of clinical trial data indicates that MST is also safer than ECT, specifically in terms of its impact on cognition.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10241155/

Magnetic seizure therapy for people with schizophrenia - PMC Pilot studies showed MST were safe for people with schizophrenia (Jiang 2018; Tang 2017). Also, as it may cause less cognition impairment, MST may be valuable ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT02746965

NCT02746965 | Magnetic Seizure Therapy for Schizophrenia This trial attempts to evaluate the treatment efficacy of magnetic seizure therapy (MST) and its safety among schizophrenia patients. Half of the participants ...

5. dovepress.com dovepress.com/magnetic-seizure-therapy-vs-electroconvulsive-therapy-in-schizophrenia-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NDT

Magnetic Seizure Therapy vs Electroconvulsive ... Although magnetic seizure therapy (MST) shows comparable symptom remission in schizophrenia, its neuroanatomical safety—particularly limbic ...