Published online Sep 19, 2022. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i9.1169
Peer-review started: February 28, 2022
First decision: April 18, 2022
Revised: April 24, 2022
Accepted: July 22, 2022
Article in press: July 22, 2022
Published online: September 19, 2022
Processing time: 204 Days and 10 Hours
Cognitive impairments are core characteristics of schizophrenia, but are largely resistant to current treatments. Several recent studies have shown that high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the left dor-solateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) can reduce negative symptoms and improve certain cognitive deficits in schizophrenia patients. However, results are inconsistent across studies.
To examine if high-frequency rTMS of the DLPFC can improve visual memory deficits in patients with schizophrenia.
Forty-seven chronic schizophrenia patients with severe negative symptoms on stable treatment regimens were randomly assigned to receive active rTMS to the DLPFC (n = 25) or sham stimulation (n = 22) on weekdays for four consecutive weeks. Patients performed the pattern recognition memory (PRM) task from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery at baseline, at the end of rTMS treatment (week 4), and 4 wk after rTMS treatment (week 8). Clinical symptoms were also measured at these same time points using the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
There were no significant differences in PRM performance metrics, SANS total score, SANS subscores, PANSS total score, and PANSS subscores between active and sham rTMS groups at the end of the 4-wk treatment period, but PRM performance metrics (percent correct and number correct) and changes in these metrics from baseline were significantly greater in the active rTMS group at week 8 compared to the sham group (all P < 0.05). Active rTMS treatment also significantly reduced SANS score at week 8 compared to sham treatment. Moreover, the improvement in visual memory was correlated with the reduction in negative symptoms at week 8. In contrast, there were no between-group differences in PANSS total score and subscale scores at either week 4 or week 8 (all P > 0.05).
High-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation improves visual memory and reduces negative symptoms in schizophrenia, but these effects are delayed, potentially due to the requirement for extensive neuroplastic changes within DLPFC networks.
Core Tip: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of visual memory disorders in schizophrenia. Forty-seven patients with chronic schizophrenia who had significant negative symptoms during stabilization therapy were randomly assigned to two groups: Active rTMS over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (n = 25) or false stimulation (n = 22) for 4 wk, followed by 4 wk of follow-up. Our results suggest that high-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation improves visual memory function and relieves negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, but with a delay.