Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Temporoparietal Junction for Treatment of Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia
Jessica Czapalski
Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation
College: College of Liberal Arts
Major: Psychology
Faculty Research Mentor: Rana Zeine
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a novel treatment modality that is being utilized for patients who are resistant to or reluctant to try traditional treatment strategies. TMS is a noninvasive neuro-theraputic prodecure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate a selected area of the brain. The purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy and safety of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) of the temporoparietal lobe of the brain as a treatment for auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.METHODS: A literature search was conducted through PsychInfo, PubMed, EBSCO Host and ProQuest online databases through Kean University Nancy Thompson Library. Search terms “transcranial magnetic stimulation”, "TMS", with the Boolean operator "AND" "auditory hallucinations", “schizophrenia”, and “temporoparietal" were used. Inclusion criteria included: 1) peer-reviewed, 2) English language.RESULTS: 37 human studies were retrieved and 11 were included in this review. Two were case studies and nine were clinical trials, of which seven were randomized sham-controlled. There was evidence for significant improvement in self-reported frequency and intensity of auditory hallucinations.CONCLUSION: Studies suggest that for rTMS treatment targeting the temporoparietal lobe to be effective, they need to be applied for at least one week. There is evidence that maintenance sessions can be beneficial for long term relief. Furthermore, individualized targeting of rTMS to brain association areas for auditory and language processing functions, based on fMRI data, can enhance patient satisfaction. Future studies are warranted to investigate the efficacy of rTMS in large-scale, blinded, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trials.