Efficacy and Mechanisms of TUS on Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia: Based on the Hippocampal-Prefrontal Circuit

Launched by SHANGHAI MENTAL HEALTH CENTER · Mar 25, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how a treatment called Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) can help improve cognitive deficits in people with schizophrenia. Cognitive deficits are challenges with thinking and memory that can make daily life more difficult for those living with this condition. The researchers believe that TUS might help by affecting certain brain areas that are linked to these cognitive issues.

To participate in this study, individuals must be between 18 and 50 years old, be diagnosed with schizophrenia, and show specific memory challenges. They also need to have been stable on certain medications for at least four weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to different treatment options in a way that neither they nor their doctors know which treatment they are receiving, ensuring a fair comparison. It's important to note that those with certain health conditions, a history of seizures, or other specific factors may not be eligible. If you are interested in the study, you'll be given all the details and will need to provide written consent to join.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia ;
• • Age18-50, right-handed, Han nationality;
• • Presence of cognitive deficit: defined as d' value \<0.5 in associative memory test;
• • Be in a stable condition, received second-generation antipsychotics for at least 4 weeks or more;
• • Written informed consent;
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Current or past neurological illness, severe physical diseases, substance abuse or alcohol dependence, mental retardation, pregnancy or lactation;
• • Uncooperative or risky patients with high excitement, stupor, disorder of words and deeds, negative suicide, etc.;
• • History of MECT or other physical therapy within 6 months;
• • History of epilepsy, or epileptic waves on the baseline EEG;
• • Ruled out share antiepileptic drugs (carbamazepine, valproic acid salt) or larger doses of benzodiazepine drugs (diazepam \> 10mg/day, clonazepam \> 2mg/day etc.), if necessary, remain unchanged during the course of treatment;
• • Contraindications to TUS and MRI are present.