Developing Dual-channel Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulations Targeting Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia
Developing Dual-channel Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulations Targeting Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia
Negative symptoms are core symptoms in schizophrenia which play an important role in clinical
 outcomes and impede patients to return to society. Anti-psychotic medicines have shown
 limited effect in improving negative symptoms and cognitive functioning, whereas non-invasive
 neuromodulations, i.e. , transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), have shown
 promising potentials. Recently new evidence of brain structural and functional alterations
 has been provided by neuroimaging studies. Brady RO et al. found cerebellar-prefrontal
 network connectivity was related to negative symptoms in schizophrenia. It provides clues for
 developing a new tACS protocol targeting improving negative symptoms, in which dual-channel
 high-density alternating current stimulations were delivered over both the right dorsolateral
 prefrontal cortex and cerebellum simultaneously.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  meet the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia;

 -  present with prominent negative symptoms with PANSS-negative scores >20, at least one
 score of PANSS N1-N7 >3, and reductive ratio of PANSS-negative in the past two weeks
 before recruitment <10%;

 -  stable usage and dosage of anti-psychotic medicines in the past two weeks and during
 the tACS intervention.

 -  age within 18-60;

 -  illness duration >1year;

 -  education at least 6 years;

 -  written consent of receiving tACS intervention.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Meet any DSM-V diagnostic criteria of any other psychiatric disorders besides
 schizophrenia ;

 -  any history of alcohol or substance dependence in the past 3 months;

 -  any other major physical disease (i.e., Sensorimotor disorder, neurological disease);

 -  any metal implants or any other tACS contraindication.