N/A
N=24
Transcranial Brain Stimulation and Its Underlying Neural Mechanisms as a Novel Treatment for Auditory Hallucinations
Psychotic Disorders
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02769507 ↗Enrolled (actual)
24
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
May 2026
Primary outcome: Primary: Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS) — 30.00; 24.33; 26.82; 20.89 AHRS total score
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- DC Stimulator PLUS (NeuroConn) (Device)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- University of Bergen
- Primary completion
- Mar 2020
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS) |
30.00; 24.33; 26.82; 20.89; 23.55; 21.56 | — |
| PRIMARY Hallucination Change Scale (HCS) |
-24.9; -21.7 | — |
| SECONDARY Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) |
18.45; 19.20; 17.82; 14.70; 18.36; 17.60 | — |
| SECONDARY Stroop Task |
73; 77; 66; 63; 80; 69 | — |
| SECONDARY Trailmaking Test B |
133; 93; 110; 82; 153; 86 | — |
| SECONDARY Apathy Evaluation Scale |
47.55; 46.11; 51.82; 40.56; 52.45; 47.56 | — |
| SECONDARY The Clinical Global Impressions Scale - Severity |
4.91; 4.56; 5.00; 4.44; 4.91; 4.44 | — |
| SECONDARY Global Assessment of Functioning - S |
43.27; 46.22; 42.91; 45.44; 42.55; 44.00 | — |
| SECONDARY Dichotic Listening Paradigm |
19.63; 25.83; 20.37; 22.5; 16.67; 22.5 | — |
| SECONDARY Dichotic Listening Laterality Index |
-14.66; -0.45; -1.45; 9.15; 22.86; 7.58 | — |
Summary
The present study aims to investigate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) reduces auditory hallucinations in patients with psychosis. In addition, the neuronal changes of tDCS will be examined.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder or other psychotic disorder
- Frequent auditory hallucinations (at least 5 times a week).
- Patients are on a stable dose of antipsychotic medication (which can also be zero) for at least 2 weeks.
- Mentally competent for informed consent.
- Provided informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
- Metal objects in or around the head that cannot be removed (i.e. cochlear implant, surgical clips, piercing)
- History of seizures, or a history of seizures in first-degree relatives.
- History of eye trauma with a metal object or professional metal workers
- History of brain surgery, brain infarction, head trauma, cerebrovascular accident, broken skull, brain tumour, heart disease, cardiac pacemaker.
- Skin disease on the scalp on the position of the tDCS electrodes
- Coercive treatment based on a judicial ruling
- Pregnancy in female patients
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02769507). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.