The abstract is read at the publisher; the summary is JClub's.
Neuronavigated dual-target rTMS over right DLPFC and cerebellum in early-stage psychosis shows a non-significant group-by-time effect on PANSS negative symptoms (F(3,174.6)=1.45, p=0.230).
- Why it matters: Negative symptoms in schizophrenia are linked to major functional impairment and quality-of-life loss, yet current treatments show limited responsiveness, especially early in illness.
- What they did: In a multicenter randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial (NCT04853485), 75 participants from Shanghai Mental Health Center and Suzhou Guangji Hospital received MRI-guided rTMS (1Hz at 100% MT to rDLPFC; iTBS at 120% MT to cerebellum) for 20 days, with PANSS assessed at T0, T1, T2, and T3.
- The result: At T2, the nominal between-group p-value was 0.049, but Sidak-adjusted mean difference was -2.48 (95% CI -4.99 to 0.03, adjusted p=0.150); however, ≥50% negative-symptom response was higher with real rTMS (χ²=9.5, p=0.002), and negative-symptom change correlated with cerebello-caudate connectivity (r=0.33, p=0.026).
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
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