Abstract
Since 1999, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been investigated as a treatment method for auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH). In this chapter, an up-to-date meta-analysis is presented. Most rTMS studies have applied low-frequency stimulation, with 1 Hz, usually to the left temporoparietal region. We found that repetitive TMS has a medium-sized effect on the severity of AVH; this effect is decreasing over time, probably due to the publication of studies with larger patient samples and more negative results in recent years. It would be interesting to investigate whether patients with medication-resistant AVH may benefit more from rTMS when other paradigms are used. Therefore, more studies are needed to explore alternative rTMS paradigms, such as high-frequency TMS or burst sequences, the usage of higher motor thresholds, and/or the application of rTMS with the aid of an H-coil.
Keywords
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Sham Treatment
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Sham Condition
- Auditory Verbal Hallucination
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Aleman, A., Sommer, I.E., Kahn, R.S. (2007). Efficacy of slow repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of resistant auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68, 416–421.
Barker, A.T., Freeston, I.L., Jarratt, J.A., Jalinous, R. (1990). Magnetic stimulation of the human nervous system: An introduction and basic principles. In: Magnetic stimulation in clinical neurophysiology. Edited by Chokroverty, S. Boston, MA: Butterworth’s, pp. 55–72.
Barker, A.T., Jalinous, R., Freeston, I.L. (1985). Non-invasive magnetic stimulation of human motor cortex. Lancet, 11, 1106–1107.
Benson, R.R., Whalen, D.H., Richardson, M., Swainson, B., Clark, V.P., Lai, S., Liberman, A.M. (2001). Parametrically dissociating speech and nonspeech perception in the brain using fMRI. Brain and Language, 78, 364–396.
Brunelin, J., Poulet, E., Bediou, B., Kallel, L., Dalery, J., D’Amato, T., Saoud, M. (2006). Low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves source monitoring deficit in hallucinating patients with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 81, 41–45.
Chibbaro, G., Daniele, M., Alagona, G., Di Pascuale, C., Cannavò, M., Rapisarda, V., Bella, R., Pennisi, G. (2005). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in schizophrenic patients reporting auditory hallucinations. Neuroscience Letters, 383, 54–57.
De Jesus, D.R., Gil, A., Barbosa, L., Lobato, M.I., Magalhães, P.V., Favalli, G.P., Marcolin, M.A., Daskalakis, Z.J., Belmonte-de-Abreu, P.D. (2011). A pilot double-blind sham-controlled trial of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for patients with refractory schizophrenia treated with clozapine. Psychiatry Research, 188, 203–207.
De Weijer, A., Neggers, S.F., Diederen, K.M., Mandl, R.C., Kahn, R.S., Hulshoff Poll, H.E., Sommer, I.E. (2011). Aberrations in the arcuate fasciculus are associated with auditory verbal hallucinations in psychotic and in non-psychotic individuals. Human Brain Mapping, doi: 10.1002/hbm.21463.
Eberle, M.-C., Wildgruber, D., Wasserka, B., Fallgatter, A.J., Plewnia, C. (2010). Relief from chronic intractable auditory hallucinations after long-term bilateral theta burst stimulation. American Journal of Psychiatry, 167, 1410.
Emerson, G.B., Warme, W.J., Wolf, F.M., Heckman, J.D., Brand, R.A., Leopold, S.S. (2010). Testing for the presence of positive-outcome bias in peer review. A randomized controlled trial. Archives of Internal Medicine, 170, 1934–1939.
Fitzgerald, P.B., Fountain, S., Daskalakis, Z.J. (2006). A comprehensive review of the effects of rTMS on motor cortical excitability and inhibition. Clinical Neurophysiology, 117, 2584–2596.
Freitas, C., Fregni, F., Pascual-Leone, A. (2009). Meta-analysis of the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on negative and positive symptoms in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 108, 11–24.
George, M.S., Wassermann, E.M., Williams, W.A., Callahan, A., Ketter, T.A., Basser, P., Hallett, M., Post, R.M. (1995). Daily repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improves mood in depression. Neuroreport, 6, 1853–1856.
Higgins, J.P.T., Thompson, S.G., Deeks, J.J., Altman, D.G. (2003). Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. British Medical Journal, 327, 557–560.
Hoffman, R.E., Boutros, N.N., Berman, R.M., Roessler, E., Belger, A., Krystal, J.H., Charney, D.S. (1999). Transcranial magnetic stimulation of left temporoparietal cortex in three patients reporting hallucinated “voices”. Biological Psychiatry, 46, 130–132.
Hoffman, R.E., Gueorguieva, R., Hawkins, K.A., Varanko, M., Boutros, N.N., Wu, Y., Carroll, K., Krystal, J.H. (2005). Temporoparietal transcranial magnetic stimulation for auditory hallucinations: safety, efficacy and moderators in a fifty patient sample. Biological Psychiatry, 58, 97–104.
Hoffman, R.E., Hampson, M., Wu, K., Anderson, A.W., Gore, J.C., Buchanan, R.J. Constable, R.T., Hawkins, K.A., Neayka, S. (2007). Probing the pathophysiology of auditory/verbal hallucinations by combining functional magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Cerebral Cortex, 17, 2733–2743.
Homan, R.W., Herman, J., Purdy, P. (1987). Cerebral location of international 10–20 system electrode placement. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 66, 376–382.
Jandl, M., Steyer, J., Weber, M., Linden, D.E., Rothmeier, J., Maurer, K., Kaschka, W.P. (2006). Treating auditory hallucinations by transcranial magnetic stimulation: a randomized controlled cross-over trial. Neuropsychobiology, 53, 63–69.
Lee, S.-H., Kim, W., Chung, Y.-C., Jung, K.-H., Bahk, W.-M., Yun, T.-Y., Kim, K.-S., George, M.S., Chae, J.-H. (2005). A double blind study showing that two weeks of daily repetitive TMS over the left or right temporoparietal cortex reduces symptoms in patients with schizophrenia who are having treatment-refractory auditory hallucinations. Neuroscience Letters, 376, 177–181.
Loo, C.K., Sainsbury, K., Mitchell, P., Hadzi-Pavlovic, D., Sachdev, P.S. (2009). A sham-controlled trial of left and right temporal rTMS for the treatment of auditory hallucinations. Psychological Medicine, 40, 541–546.
Montagne-Larmurier, A., Etard, O., Razafimandimby, A., Morello, R., Dollfus, S. (2009). Two-day treatment of auditory hallucinations by high frequency rTMS guided by cerebral imaging: a 6 month follow-up pilot study. Schizophrenia Research, 113, 77–83.
Munafo, M.R., Flint J. (2010). How reliable are scientific studies? The British Journal of Psychiatry, 197, 257–258.
Poulet, E., Brunelin, J., Ben Makhlouf, W., D’Amato, T., Saoud, M. (2009). A case report of cTBS for the treatment of auditory hallucinations in a patient with schizophrenia. Brain Stimulation, 2, 118–119.
Rosa, M.O., Gattaz, W.F., Rosa, M.A., Rumi, D.O., Tavares, H., Myckowski, M., Sartorelli, M.C., Rigonatti, S.P., Elkis, H., Cabral, S.B., Teixeira, M.J., Marcolin, M.A. (2007). Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on auditory hallucinations refractory to clozapine. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68, 1528–1532.
Rosenberg, O., Roth, Y., Kotler, M., Zangen, A., Dannon, P. (2011). Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of auditory hallucinations: a preliminary open-label study. Annals of General Psychiatry, 10, 3.
Rosenthal, R. (1979). The file drawer problem and tolerance for null results. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 638–641.
Saba, G., Verdon, C.M., Kalalou, K., Rocamora, J.F., Dumortier, G., Benadhira, R., Stamatiadis, L. Vicaut, E., Lipski, H., Januel, D. (2006). Transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of schizophrenic symptoms: a double blind sham controlled study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 40, 147–152.
Schönfeldt-Lecuona, C., Grön, G., Walter, H., Büchler, N., Wunderlich, A., Spitzer, M., Herwig, U. (2004). Stereotaxic rTMS for the treatment of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. Neuroreport, 15, 1669–1673.
Siebner, H.R., Rothwell, J. (2003). Transcranial magnetic stimulation: new insights into representational cortical plasticity. Experimental Brain Research, 148, 1–16.
Slotema, C.W., Blom, J.D., De Weijer, A.D., Diederen, K.M., Goekoop, R., Looijestijn, J., Daalman, K., Rijkaart, A.-M., Kahn, R.S., Hoek, H.W., Sommer, I.E.C. (2011). Can low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation really relieve medication-resistant auditory verbal hallucinations? Negative results from a large randomized controlled trial. Biological Psychiatry, 69, 450–456.
Slotema, C.W., Blom, J.D., De Weijer, A.D., Kahn, R.S., Hoek, H.W., Sommer, I.E.C. Priming does not enhance the efficacy of one-hertz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of auditory verbal hallucinations: results of a randomized controlled study (submitted).
Slotema, C.W., Blom, J.D., Hoek, H.W., Sommer, I.E.C. (2010). Should we expand the toolbox of psychiatric treatment methods to include repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation? A meta-analysis of the efficacy of rTMS for psychiatric disorders. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 71, 873–884.
Sommer, I.E.C., Diederen, K.M.J., Blom, J.-D., Willems, A., Kushan, L., Slotema, K., Boks, M.P.M., Daalman, K., Hoek, H.W., Neggers, S.F.W., Kahn, R.S. (2008). Auditory verbal hallucinations predominantly activate the right inferior frontal area. Brain, 131, 3169–3177.
Tranulis, C., Sepehry, A.A., Galinowski, A., Stip, E. (2008). Should we treat auditory hallucinations with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation? A meta-analysis. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53, 577–586.
Vercammen, A., Knegtering, H., Bruggeman, R., Westenbroek, H.M., Jenner, J.A., Slooff, C.J., Wunderink, L., Aleman, A. (2009). Effects of bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on treatment resistant auditory-verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial. Schizophrenia Research, 114, 172–179.
Wassermann, E.M. (1998). Risk and safety of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: report and suggested guidelines from the International Workshop on the Safety of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, June 5–7, 1996. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 108, 1–16.
Zangen, A., Roth, Y., Voller, B., Hallett, M. (2005). Transcranial magnetic stimulation of deep brain regions: evidence for efficacy of the H-coil. Clinical Neurophysiology, 116, 775–779.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Slotema, C.W., Daskalakis, Z.J. (2012). Experimental Somatic Treatments: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations – A Meta-Analysis and Review. In: Blom, J., Sommer, I. (eds) Hallucinations. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0959-5_25
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0959-5_25
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-0958-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-0959-5
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)