32 Participants Needed

tDCS for Schizophrenia

Philip Gerretsen, MD, PhD profile photo
Ariel Graff, MD, PhD profile photo
Overseen ByAriel Graff, MD, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Must be taking: Antipsychotics
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This is a novel study that seeks to explore the clinical and functional imaging effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on illness awareness or anosognosia in schizophrenia, arguably the most treatment-resistant manifestation of the disorder.

Research Team

PG

Philip Gerretsen, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for English-speaking adults over 18 with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, who have a moderate-to-severe lack of illness awareness and are on stable medication. It excludes those taking antiepileptics, with acute suicidal thoughts, pregnant women, serious medical conditions including seizure history, recent substance dependence (except caffeine/nicotine), positive drug screen, MRI contraindications or low WRAT III score.

Inclusion Criteria

Having a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
I am willing and able to agree to participate in this study.
Fluent in English
See 2 more

Exclusion Criteria

Positive urine drug screen for drugs of abuse
I am currently on medication for epilepsy.
Any contraindications to MRI (eg., metal implants that would preclude an MRI, claustrophobia)
See 7 more

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive dual hemisphere tDCS or sham stimulation daily for 10 days, with MRI scans and illness awareness assessments at baseline and after 10 days

10 days
Daily visits for 10 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in illness awareness weekly for 4 weeks after tDCS

4 weeks
Weekly visits

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Active TDCS
  • Sham TDCS
Trial Overview The study tests the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on illness awareness in schizophrenia patients. Participants will receive either active tDCS or a sham treatment to compare outcomes using clinical assessments and functional imaging techniques.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Sham TDCSExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants who are randomly assigned to this arm will receive dual hemisphere sham stimulation with electrodes placed on the parietal lobes (P3 and P4) daily for 10 days. Each participant will have two MRI scans and their degree of illness awareness assessed at baseline and after 10 days of tDCS. Illness awareness will be assessed weekly thereafter for 4 weeks.
Group II: Active TDCSExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants who are randomly assigned to this arm will receive dual hemisphere parietal (P3 cathodal, P4 anodal) stimulation daily for 10 days. Each participant will have two MRI scans and their degree of illness awareness assessed at baseline and after 10 days of tDCS. Illness awareness will be assessed weekly thereafter for 4 weeks.

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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials
388
Recruited
84,200+
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