Rosenberg, OdedGersner, RomanKlein, Limor DinurKotler, MosheZangen, AbrahamDannon, Pinhas2013-03-112012Rosenberg, Oded, Roman Gersner, Limor Dinur Klein, Moshe Kotler, Abraham Zangen, and Pinhas Dannon. 2012. Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation add-on for the treatment of auditory hallucinations: A double-blind study. Annals of General Psychiatry 11:13.1744-859Xhttp://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:10385011Background: About 25% of schizophrenia patients with auditory hallucinations are refractory to pharmacotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy. We conducted a deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) pilot study in order to evaluate the potential clinical benefit of repeated left temporoparietal cortex stimulation in these patients. The results were encouraging, but a sham-controlled study was needed to rule out a placebo effect. Methods: A total of 18 schizophrenic patients with refractory auditory hallucinations were recruited, from Beer Yaakov MHC and other hospitals outpatient populations. Patients received 10 daily treatment sessions with low-frequency (1 Hz for 10 min) deep TMS applied over the left temporoparietal cortex, using the H1 coil at the intensity of 110% of the motor threshold. Procedure was either real or sham according to patient randomization. Patients were evaluated via the Auditory Hallucinations Rating Scale, Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms-Negative Symptoms, Clinical Global Impressions, and Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results: In all, 10 patients completed the treatment (10 TMS sessions). Auditory hallucination scores of both groups improved; however, there was no statistical difference in any of the scales between the active and the sham treated groups. Conclusions: Low-frequency deep TMS to the left temporoparietal cortex using the protocol mentioned above has no statistically significant effect on auditory hallucinations or the other clinical scales measured in schizophrenic patients.en-USJournal Article2013-03-1110.1186/1744-859X-11-13