Interest of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in the Treatment of Auditory Hallucinations (TMS HALLU)

Interest of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in the Treatment of Auditory Hallucinations

Auditory hallucinations are common (present in 60-70% of cases) and extremely debilitating. Behavioral disorders associated with them can have serious social repercussions. However, in 25% of cases the usual antipsychotic drug treatments are incompletely or totally ineffective. Fifteen subjects will be included after collection and signed their informed consent. The rTMS treatment is made of 4 sessions of 13 minutes spread over two days, at a frequency of 20 Hz and an intensity of 80% of motor threshold at rest. These constants are used to stay below the risk of occurrence of seizures, the only serious side effects identified. Furthermore the rTMS treatment is almost painless: tension headaches are the main side effects and make amends with simple analgesics. rTMS is devoid of neurocognitive effects. The LEFT stimulation site will be established through a anatomofunctional imaging before treatment (between D-7 and D0). Treatment efficacy will be evaluated daily during treatment (days 1 and 2) and during the first 2 weeks of starting treatment.

rTMS : 4 sessions of 13 minutes, with 2 sessions a day, at 20Hz frequency and at an intensity of 80% of rest motor threshold will be delivered

4 sessions of 13 minutes, with 2 sessions a day, at 20Hz frequency and at an intensity of 80% of rest motor threshold will be delivered

Inclusion Criteria: Patients with schizophrenic disorders aged from 18 to 60 years old Patients suffering from auditory hallucinations undergoing antipsychotic treatments Written signed consent Exclusion Criteria: Pregnancy or breastfeeding Counter-indication to MRI or to rTMS