Assessing the impact of sex on high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation´s clinical response in schizophrenia - results from a secondary analysis.

Background: The evidence for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to treat negative symptoms in schizophrenia (SCZ) is increasing, although variable response rates remain a challenge. Subject´s sex critically influences rTMS´ treatment outcomes. Females with major depressive disorder are more likely to respond to rTMS, while SCZ data is scarce.

Effects of high-frequency prefrontal rTMS on heart frequency rates and blood pressure in schizophrenia.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a safe non-invasive neuromodulation technique used for the treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders. The effect of rTMS applied to the cortex on autonomic functions has not been studied in detail in patient cohorts, yet patients who receive rTMS may have disease-associated impairments in the autonomic system and may receive medication that may pronounce autonomic dysfunctions.

Methods: Using data from the 'rTMS for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia' (RESIS) trial we evaluated the effect of rTMS applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on autonomic nervous system-related parameters such as blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in both reclining and standing postures from screening up to 105 days after intervention among patients with schizophrenia.

Efficacy of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in schizophrenia patients with treatment-resistant negative symptoms treated with clozapine.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a promising augmentation treatment for schizophrenia, however there are few controlled studies of rTMS augmentation of clozapine.

Methods: Using data from the 'rTMS for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia' (RESIS) trial we examined the impact of rTMS on PANSS total, general, positive and negative symptoms among participants on clozapine. rTMS was applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for five treatment sessions/week for 3-weeks as augmentation for patients with a predominant negative syndrome of schizophrenia, as rated on PANSS.

Evaluation of the symmetry of biogeneric design suggestions in Cerec/inLab.

This study evaluates the symmetry of initial proposals for anterior tooth restorations delivered by the Cerec software. By using a symmetric preparation model and a special angulation gauge for restoration axes, the study proves that the restoration proposals are symmetric with respect to the median sagittal plane.

Efficacy of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on PANSS factors in schizophrenia with predominant negative symptoms - Results from an exploratory re-analysis.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the left frontal lobe is discussed to be a promising add-on treatment for negative symptoms in schizophrenia. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) has been used as outcome parameter in several previous rTMS trials, but studies focusing on PANSS factor analyses are lacking. For this purpose, we used the available PANSS data of the 'rTMS for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia' (RESIS) trial to calculate different literature-based PANSS factors and to re-evaluate the impact of rTMS on negative symptoms in this trial.

Predicting Response to Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Patients With Schizophrenia Using Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Multisite Machine Learning Analysis.

Background: The variability of responses to plasticity-inducing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) challenges its successful application in psychiatric care. No objective means currently exists to individually predict the patients' response to rTMS.

Methods: We used machine learning to develop and validate such tools using the pre-treatment structural Magnetic Resonance Images (sMRI) of 92 patients with schizophrenia enrolled in the multisite RESIS trial (http://clinicaltrials.

1-Hz rTMS in the treatment of tinnitus: A sham-controlled, randomized multicenter trial.

Background: Chronic tinnitus is a frequent, difficult to treat disease with high morbidity.

Objective: This multicenter randomized, sham-controlled trial investigated the efficacy and safety of 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the left temporal cortex in patients with chronic tinnitus.

Methods: Tinnitus patients were randomized to receive 10 sessions of either real or sham 1-Hz-rTMS (2000 stimuli, 110% motor threshold) to the left temporal cortex.

Efficacy and Safety of Repeated Courses of rTMS Treatment in Patients with Chronic Subjective Tinnitus.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown promising effects in the treatment of chronic subjective tinnitus. However, little is known about maintenance treatment in order to achieve long-lasting improvements.

Objective: This study addresses the questions whether the repeated application of rTMS treatment can contribute to the maintenance or enhancement of treatment effects and if so in which cases repetitive treatment courses are beneficial.

Psychophysiological Associations between Chronic Tinnitus and Sleep: A Cross Validation of Tinnitus and Insomnia Questionnaires.

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of insomnia in chronic tinnitus and the association of tinnitus distress and sleep disturbance.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data of 182 patients with chronic tinnitus who completed the Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ) and the Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS). Descriptive comparisons with the validation sample of the RIS including exclusively patients with primary/psychophysiological insomnia, correlation analyses of the RIS with TQ scales, and principal component analyses (PCA) in the tinnitus sample were performed.

Cognitive Effects of High-Frequency rTMS in Schizophrenia Patients With Predominant Negative Symptoms: Results From a Multicenter Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial.

Cognitive impairments are one of the main contributors to disability and poor long-term outcome in schizophrenia. Proof-of-concept trials indicate that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has the potential to improve cognitive functioning. We analyzed the effects of 10-Hz rTMS to the left DLPFC on cognitive deficits in schizophrenia in a large-scale and multicenter, sham-controlled study.

Left prefrontal high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of schizophrenia with predominant negative symptoms: a sham-controlled, randomized multicenter trial.

Background: Investigators are urgently searching for options to treat negative symptoms in schizophrenia because these symptoms are disabling and do not respond adequately to antipsychotic or psychosocial treatment. Meta-analyses based on small proof-of-principle trials suggest efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for the treatment of negative symptoms and call for adequately powered multicenter trials. This study evaluated the efficacy of 10-Hz rTMS applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for the treatment of predominant negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

Bilateral prefrontal rTMS and theta burst TMS as an add-on treatment for depression: a randomized placebo controlled trial.

Objectives: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the left dorsolateral-prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) exerts antidepressant effects. In this randomised controlled clinical trial we aimed to test the safety and therapeutic efficacy of bilateral theta-burst stimulation (TBS) as an add-on therapy to standard treatment of major depression.

Methods: Fifty-six patients diagnosed with a moderate to severe depressive episode received 15 daily treatments of either rTMS (110% motor-threshold; rightDLPFC, 1000 stimuli at 1 Hz + leftDLPFC, 1000 stimuli at 10 Hz), theta-burst stimulation (80% motor-threshold; rightDLPFC, continuous TBS, 1200 stimuli + leftDLPFC, intermittent TBS, 1200 stimuli), or sham TMS (N = 17, sham coil with the TBS protocol).

Changes in motor cortex excitability associated with temporal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in tinnitus: hints for cross-modal plasticity?

Background: Motor cortex excitability was found to be changed after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the temporal cortex highlighting the occurrence of cross-modal plasticity in non-invasive brain stimulation. Here, we investigated the effects of temporal low-frequency rTMS on motor cortex plasticity in a large sample of tinnitus patients. In 116 patients with chronic tinnitus different parameters of cortical excitability were assessed before and after ten rTMS treatment sessions.

Antipsychotic treatment with quetiapine increases the cortical silent period.

Rationale: Measurement of motor cortex excitability with single and paired pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation has become an established method for in vivo characterization of the effects of central-acting drugs. The comparison of drug-free and medicated patients with schizophrenia suggests an association of neuroleptics intake and prolongation of the cortical silent period (CSP). However all available data come from cross-sectional non-randomized studies.

Amygdalohippocampal neuroplastic changes following neuroleptic treatment with quetiapine in first-episode schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a severe, debilitating, chronic disease that is accompanied by morphologic changes within the brain. However, it is unclear to what extent alterations of grey and white matter in schizophrenia are linked to the disease itself, or whether they are a consequence of neuroleptic treatment. Typical and atypical antipsychotics exert differential effects on brain structure.

State- and trait-related alterations of motor cortex excitability in tinnitus patients.

Chronic tinnitus is a brain network disorder with involvement of auditory and non-auditory areas. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the temporal cortex has been investigated for the treatment of tinnitus. Several small studies suggest that motor cortex excitability is altered in people with tinnitus.

Auditory cortex is implicated in tinnitus distress: a voxel-based morphometry study.

Neuroimaging studies of tinnitus suggest the involvement of wide-spread neural networks for perceptual, attentional, memory, and emotional processes encompassing auditory, frontal, parietal, and limbic areas. Despite sparse findings for tinnitus duration and laterality, tinnitus distress has been shown to be related to changes in non-auditory cortical areas. The aim of this study was to correlate tinnitus characteristics with grey matter volume in two large samples of tinnitus patients.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of chronic tinnitus after traumatic brain injury: a case study.

Tinnitus is a frequent symptom of traumatic brain injury, which is difficult to treat. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has shown beneficial effects in some forms of tinnitus. However, traumatic brain injury in the past has been considered as a relative contraindication for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation because of the increased risk of seizures.

Predictors for rTMS response in chronic tinnitus.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been studied as a treatment option for chronic tinnitus for almost 10 years now. Although most of these studies have demonstrated beneficial effects, treatment results show high interindividual variability and yet, little is known about predictors for treatment response.

Methods: Data from 538 patients with chronic tinnitus were analyzed.

Reduction of tinnitus severity by the centrally acting muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine: an open-label pilot study.

Tinnitus, the phantom perception of sounds, is a highly prevalent disorder. Although a wide variety of drugs have been investigated off label for the treatment of tinnitus, there is no approved pharmacotherapy. We report an open-label exploratory pilot study to assess the effect of muscle relaxants acting on the central nervous system on tinnitus patients.

Is motor cortex excitability associated with personality factors? A replication study.

In a previous study an association has been reported between motor cortex excitability, as measured by paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and neuroticism of the NEO personality inventory; this correlation was carried by the men. The aim of the present study was to replicate these findings in a larger sample and with additional measures of motor cortex excitability. Eighty-nine healthy volunteers filled in the NEO-FFI and underwent several measures of motor cortex excitability (resting and active motor thresholds, double-pulse TMS with interstimulus intervals of 1-20ms, and cortical silent period).

Transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of tinnitus: 4-year follow-up in treatment responders--a retrospective analysis.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the temporal cortex has been proposed as a new approach for the treatment of tinnitus. Even if most studies have shown beneficial effects, there is only limited knowledge about clinical predictors for treatment response and about the duration of treatment effects.

Objective: In this study, we compared clinical characteristics of rTMS responders and nonresponders and assessed long-term outcome in the responder group.