Transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Purpose. - The author has endeavoured to present a qualitative review of current data on the interest of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia, its therapeutic impact and processes that underlie it. Method. - The method consisted in a review of the literature by an extensive consultation of the computerized Medline database. Results. - Despite the small number of controlled studies and the small sample sizes, rTMS appears to be an effective therapeutic method in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia and also helps understanding the patho-physiologic processes that underlie them (hypofrontality, dopamine hypothesis and responsiveness of the HPA axis). Conclusion. - Before any conclusion may be reached about the effectiveness of this new technology more studies are required using larger parameters for active treatment and optimal placebos (alpha-TMS at least 110 % of the motor threshold, focused on the hypo-active area). (c) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.