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Neuronavigated rTMS for Treatment-Resistant Auditory Hallucinations (fuNEEG)

23 september 2026 bijgewerkt door: Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich

Functional Neuronavigated EEG and TMS-treatment of Chronic Acoustic Hallucinations

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), such as hearing voices in the absence of an external sound source, are a common and distressing symptom of schizophrenia. In some patients, hallucinations persist despite treatment with antipsychotic medication. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that may reduce auditory hallucinations by decreasing activity in brain regions involved in auditory and language processing.

This randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study will investigate whether individualized, neuronavigated inhibitory rTMS can reduce persistent auditory verbal hallucinations. Forty adults with medication-resistant auditory hallucinations will be randomly assigned to receive either active rTMS or sham stimulation.

For each participant, the stimulation target in the primary auditory cortex will be individually identified using electroencephalography (EEG), acoustic evoked potentials, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based neuronavigation. Participants will receive two rTMS sessions per day for five consecutive days. The severity of auditory hallucinations will be assessed before and after treatment and at a 28-day follow-up.

The study will also investigate whether treatment is associated with changes in brain activity and functional connectivity measured by EEG, including changes in the P300 event-related potential.

Studie Overzicht

Toestand

Werving

Conditie

Interventie / Behandeling

Studietype

Ingrijpend

Inschrijving (Geschat)

40

Fase

  • Niet toepasbaar

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

Studie Contact Back-up

Studie Locaties

      • Zurich, Zwitserland, 8032
        • Werving
        • Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Hoofdonderzoeker:
          • Tobias Welt, Dr. med.

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

18 jaar tot 65 jaar (Volwassen, Oudere volwassene)

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Nee

Geslachten die in aanmerking komen voor studie

Allemaal

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Written informed consent provided prior to participation

  • Age 18 to 65 years

  • Medication-resistant auditory hallucinations, defined as:

    • At least two adequate trials of antipsychotic medication
    • At least one of these trials with an atypical antipsychotic medication
    • At least five episodes of auditory hallucinations per day during the preceding month
    • Stable antipsychotic medication for at least 6 weeks
  • Current treatment at the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (PUK), either in an outpatient clinic, day clinic, or inpatient ward

  • Sufficient knowledge of German to understand the study procedures and assessments

  • Ability to follow study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindications to TMS treatment, including cochlear implants, metallic devices close to the TMS coil, history of stroke, head injury, or seizures/epilepsy
  • History of epileptic convulsive seizures or epileptiform potentials in previous EEG examinations
  • TMS treatment within the 3 months preceding study inclusion
  • Known severe hypersensitivity or severe adverse reaction to TMS
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Intention to become pregnant during the study
  • Major somatic comorbidities, such as renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, heart failure, or cardiovascular disease
  • Current treatment with any drug that lowers the seizure threshold
  • Known or suspected non-compliance, drug abuse, or alcohol abuse
  • Vulnerable subjects (children, pregnant women, elderly persons)
  • Inability to follow study procedures, for example due to language problems, psychological disorder, dementia, or other conditions interfering with participation
  • Participation in another study involving investigational treatment within the 30 days preceding study inclusion or during the present study
  • Current electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
  • Previous enrollment in the present study
  • Investigator, family member of the investigator, employee, or other dependent person
  • Contraindications or limitations related to the medical device as specified in the instructions for use

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

  • Primair doel: Behandeling
  • Toewijzing: Gerandomiseerd
  • Interventioneel model: Parallelle opdracht
  • Masker: Verviervoudigen

Wapens en interventies

Deelnemersgroep / Arm
Interventie / Behandeling
Experimenteel: Active rTMS

Participants receive individualized, neuronavigated inhibitory rTMS targeting the primary auditory cortex. The stimulation target is individually determined using EEG-based auditory evoked potentials and MRI-based neuronavigation. Treatment is administered twice daily for five consecutive days.

Individualized neuronavigated inhibitory rTMS is applied to the primary auditory cortex. The individual stimulation target is determined using EEG-based auditory evoked potentials and MRI-based neuronavigation. Stimulation is delivered at 1 Hz on five consecutive days, with a total of 12,000 magnetic pulses administered over the treatment course.

Sham-vergelijker: Sham rTMS

Participants undergo the same treatment schedule and neuronavigation procedures as the active rTMS group using a sham coil that is visually and acoustically similar to the active coil but does not deliver active magnetic stimulation.

Sham stimulation is administered using the same neuronavigation procedures and treatment schedule as active rTMS. A sham coil visually and acoustically resembling the active coil is used but does not deliver active magnetic stimulation.

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Change From Baseline in Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale (AVHRS) Score Immediately After Treatment
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period

Change from baseline in auditory hallucination severity assessed with the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale (AVHRS), a structured interview assessing multiple characteristics of auditory hallucinations, including frequency, duration, location, loudness, negative content, distress, interference with daily life, perceived control, anxiety, and interference with thinking.

Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period

Secundaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Change From Baseline in Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale (AVHRS) Score at Day 28
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment

Change from baseline in auditory hallucination severity assessed with the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale (AVHRS), a structured interview assessing multiple characteristics of auditory hallucinations, including frequency, duration, location, loudness, negative content, distress, interference with daily life, perceived control, anxiety, and interference with thinking.

Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment
Change From Baseline in PSYRATS Auditory Hallucinations Subscale Score Immediately After Treatment
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period

Change from baseline in the Auditory Hallucinations subscale of the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS). The subscale consists of 11 items scored from 0 to 4, yielding a total score from 0 to 44. Higher scores indicate greater auditory hallucination severity.

Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period
Change From Baseline in PSYRATS Delusions Subscale Score Immediately After Treatment
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period

Change from baseline in the Delusions subscale of the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS). The subscale consists of 6 items scored from 0 to 4, yielding a total score from 0 to 24. Higher scores indicate greater delusion severity.

Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period
Change From Baseline in PSYRATS Combined Score Immediately After Treatment
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period

Change from baseline in the combined Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS) score, calculated as the sum of the Auditory Hallucinations and Delusions subscale scores. The combined score ranges from 0 to 68, with higher scores indicating greater overall psychotic symptom severity.

Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period
Change From Baseline in PSYRATS Auditory Hallucinations Subscale Score at Day 28
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment

Change from baseline in the Auditory Hallucinations subscale of the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS). The subscale consists of 11 items scored from 0 to 4, yielding a total score from 0 to 44. Higher scores indicate greater auditory hallucination severity.

Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment
Change From Baseline in PSYRATS Delusions Subscale Score at Day 28
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment

Change from baseline in the Delusions subscale of the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS). The subscale consists of 6 items scored from 0 to 4, yielding a total score from 0 to 24. Higher scores indicate greater delusion severity.

Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment
Change From Baseline in PSYRATS Combined Score at Day 28
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment

Change from baseline in the combined Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS) score, calculated as the sum of the Auditory Hallucinations and Delusions subscale scores. The combined score ranges from 0 to 68, with higher scores indicating greater overall psychotic symptom severity.

Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment
Change From Baseline in Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale Questionnaire (AVHRS-Q) Total Score Immediately After Treatment
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period

Change from baseline in the total score of the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale Questionnaire (AVHRS-Q), a self-report measure assessing characteristics and severity of auditory vocal hallucinations. Higher scores indicate greater severity of auditory vocal hallucinations.

Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period
Change From Baseline in Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale Questionnaire (AVHRS-Q) Total Score at Day 28
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment

Change from baseline in the total score of the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale Questionnaire (AVHRS-Q), a self-report measure assessing characteristics and severity of auditory vocal hallucinations. Higher scores indicate greater severity of auditory vocal hallucinations.

Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment
Change From Baseline in Self-assessment of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations (SAVH) Total Score Immediately After Treatment
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period

Change from baseline in the total score of the Self-assessment of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations (SAVH), a 9-item self-report measure assessing auditory verbal hallucinations during the preceding week. Each item is scored from 0 to 5, yielding a total score from 0 to 45. Higher scores indicate greater severity of auditory verbal hallucinations.

Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period
Change From Baseline in Self-assessment of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations (SAVH) Total Score at Day 28
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment

Change from baseline in the total score of the Self-assessment of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations (SAVH), a 9-item self-report measure assessing auditory verbal hallucinations during the preceding week. Each item is scored from 0 to 5, yielding a total score from 0 to 45. Higher scores indicate greater severity of auditory verbal hallucinations.

Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment
Change From Baseline in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) Score Immediately After Treatment
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period

Change from baseline in illness severity assessed using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale. CGI-S is rated from 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating greater illness severity.

Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period
Change From Baseline in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) Score at Day 28
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment

Change from baseline in illness severity assessed using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale. CGI-S is rated from 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating greater illness severity.

Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment
Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Score Immediately After Treatment
Tijdsspanne: Immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period

Overall change in clinical condition assessed using the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale. CGI-I is rated from 1 to 7, where 1 indicates very much improved, 4 indicates no change, and 7 indicates very much worse.

Immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period
Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Score at Day 28
Tijdsspanne: Day 28 after completion of treatment

Overall change in clinical condition assessed using the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale. CGI-I is rated from 1 to 7, where 1 indicates very much improved, 4 indicates no change, and 7 indicates very much worse.

Day 28 after completion of treatment
Change From Baseline in Auditory P300 Parameters Immediately After Treatment
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period

Change from baseline in auditory P300 event-related potential parameters measured by EEG during an auditory Oddball paradigm. P300 amplitude and latency elicited by target stimuli will be evaluated and compared between baseline and post-treatment recordings.

Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period
Change From Baseline in Auditory P300 Parameters at Day 28
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment

Change from baseline in auditory P300 event-related potential parameters measured by EEG during an auditory Oddball paradigm. P300 amplitude and latency elicited by target stimuli will be evaluated and compared between baseline and Day-28 recordings.

Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment
Change From Baseline in EEG Functional Connectivity Immediately After Treatment
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period

Change from baseline in functional brain connectivity assessed using EEG and source localization with low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Treatment-related changes in functional connectivity between cortical brain regions will be evaluated by comparing baseline and post-treatment EEG recordings.

Baseline to immediately after completion of the 5-day treatment period
Change From Baseline in EEG Functional Connectivity at Day 28
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment

Change from baseline in functional brain connectivity assessed using EEG and source localization with low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Treatment-related changes in functional connectivity between cortical brain regions will be evaluated by comparing baseline and Day-28 EEG recordings.

Baseline to Day 28 after completion of treatment

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Sponsor

Onderzoekers

  • Studie directeur: Sebastian Olbrich, Prof. Dr. med., Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Werkelijk)

11 juni 2026

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

1 november 2028

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

1 november 2028

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

23 september 2026

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

23 september 2026

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

2 oktober 2026

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)

2 oktober 2026

Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria

23 september 2026

Laatst geverifieerd

1 september 2026

Meer informatie

Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie

Andere studie-ID-nummers

  • fuNEEG
  • Bangerter-Rhyner-Foundation (Ander subsidie-/financieringsnummer: Gottfried & Julia Bangerter-Rhyner-Stiftung)

Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)

Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?

NEE

Beschrijving IPD-plan

Individual participant data are not planned to be made publicly available. Potential reuse of pseudonymized data may be considered in accordance with participant consent and applicable ethical and data protection requirements.

Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel

Nee

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct

Nee

Deze informatie is zonder wijzigingen rechtstreeks van de website clinicaltrials.gov gehaald. Als u verzoeken heeft om uw onderzoeksgegevens te wijzigen, te verwijderen of bij te werken, neem dan contact op met register@clinicaltrials.gov. Zodra er een wijziging wordt doorgevoerd op clinicaltrials.gov, wordt deze ook automatisch bijgewerkt op onze website .