Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on schizophrenia with refractory negative symptoms and brain-derived neurotrophic factor / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare with the effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) between the left and the right prefrontal on refractory negative symptoms and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Methods 80 hospitalized schizophrenics with refractory negative symptoms were divided into study group (n=40) and control group (n=40) randomly. Both groups were received 4-week treatment of 10 Hz rTMS. The stimulus lo?cation of the study group was the left prefrontal, and the control group was the right prefrontal. The type and dose of anti?psychotics remained unchanged during the treatment. The evaluation of positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS) and the measurement of BDNF concentration before treatment and after 4 weeks treatment was analyzed. Results Com?pared with before treatment, the total score of PANSS after treatment significantly decreased (P<0.05) both in the study group [(71.2±13.8) vs. (63.3±11.4)] and the control group [(70.3±13.4) vs. (63.7±12.2)]. The score of negative symptoms in the study group decreased [(22.8±6.6) vs. (18.4±5.9), P<0.01]. The BDNF concentration increased in the study group ](6.78±2.16) vs. (8.74±2.76)] and the control group [(6.83±2.32) vs. (8.66±2.70)]. Conclusion 10Hz rTMS on the left pre?frontal combined with drugs are helpful to improve the refractory negative symptom of the patients with schizophrenia. Stimulation on both left and right prefrontal lobe could increase serum BDNF concentration.