This open-label clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and underlying neural mechanisms of a personalized dual-target rTMS protocol for treating patients with refractory schizophrenia. Patients with refractory schizophrenia were prospectively recruited and underwent 3 weeks of rTMS treatment.
Before treatment, structural and resting-state functional MRI data were collected from each patient. Clinical symptom severity was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). For patients experiencing auditory verbal hallucinations, the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS) was also administered. Additionally, a battery of neuropsychological tests was conducted, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Digit Span Test (DST), Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), Stroop Test, and Chinese Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT).
After completing the 3-week rTMS treatment, clinical symptom severity, treatment-related adverse events, and structural and resting-state functional MRI data were reassessed.
