Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 13 to 55

Personalized rTMS treatment for patients with persistent auditory hallucinations

Official title: RTMS for Refractory Auditory Hallucinations Based on Personalized Targets Using Magnetoencephalography

Run by Shanghai Mental Health Center · NCT06802939 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a personalized brain treatment using magnetic stimulation to see if it can help people with schizophrenia who hear persistent voices feel better.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages13 Years to 55 Years
SexAll
Enrollment36 (estimated)
SponsorShanghai Mental Health Center
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Shanghai)
StatusRecruiting
StartedFebruary 5, 2025
Main results expectedDecember 10, 2026
Study endsDecember 31, 2026
Registry record updatedFebruary 14, 2025
Trial IDNCT06802939 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are right-handed individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who experience persistent auditory hallucinations despite adequate antipsychotic treatment.

Probably not a fit

Patients with major physical illnesses, recent MECT treatment, or contraindications for rTMS are unlikely to benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study focuses on patients with refractory auditory hallucinations, particularly those diagnosed with schizophrenia. It employs magnetoencephalography (MEG) to identify individualized brain targets for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment. The intervention consists of a structured regimen of rTMS sessions aimed at reducing the severity of auditory hallucinations, with careful monitoring and evaluation of patient responses throughout the process. The study aims to explore the effectiveness of personalized treatment plans based on precise brain localization.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce the severity of auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia, improving their quality of life.

How similar studies have gone: While the use of rTMS for auditory hallucinations has been explored, this study's personalized approach using MEG for target localization is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia
* Must be able to right-handed
* Primary school education or above
* Understand and sign a written informed consent form (jointly signed by the guardian and the participant if under 18 years old)
* Existence of persistent auditory hallucinations (defined as: taking sufficient antipsychotic medication for at least 6 months, combined with 3 antipsychotic medications still ineffective, and no significant improvement in auditory hallucinations symptoms, with an AHRS score still\>12)

Exclusion Criteria:

* MECT treatment within the past 3 months
* Major physical illnesses (organic lesions such as sensory and motor disorders, neurological disorders, and traumatic brain injury)
* Taboo symptoms for rTMS treatment (such as intracranial metal implants)
* Aggressive behavior and an impulse to damage equipment
* Metal (including orthodontic treatment, dental implants) and tattoos inside the body
* Claustrophobia

Where it's running

  • Shanghai Mental Health Center
    Shanghai, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.