Developing Dual-channel Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulations Targeting Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulations, Negative Symptoms
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Schizophrenia
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- meet the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia;
- present with prominent negative symptoms with PANSS-negative scores >20, at least one score of PANSS N1-N7 >3, and reductive ratio of PANSS-negative in the past two weeks before recruitment <10%;
- stable usage and dosage of anti-psychotic medicines in the past two weeks and during the tACS intervention.
- age within 18-60;
- illness duration >1year;
- education at least 6 years;
- written consent of receiving tACS intervention.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Meet any DSM-V diagnostic criteria of any other psychiatric disorders besides schizophrenia ;
- any history of alcohol or substance dependence in the past 3 months;
- any other major physical disease (i.e., Sensorimotor disorder, neurological disease);
- any metal implants or any other tACS contraindication.
Sites / Locations
- Yingying TangRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Sham Comparator
Active tACS
Sham tACS
Active tACS will be applied twice daily for 5 days. In each session, dual-channel high-density theta(7Hz) tACS stimulations will be delivered over the right DLPFC (one anodal electrode at F4, between -1.2mA and 1.2 mA; two cathodal electrodes at AF4 and FC6, between -0.6mA and 0.6mA) and cerebellum (one anodal electrode at Oz, between -1 mA and 1mA; two cathodal electrodes at PO3 and PO4, between -0.5mA and 0.5mA) lasting 20 minutes.
Sham tACS will be also applied twice daily for 5 days.The parameters of tACS electrodes numbers, locations, and current duration are all the same with active tACS. But sham tACS begin with a fade in over 3s to the peak, followed immediately by no current stimulation for 20 minutes and a fade out of 3s.