Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

This study is exploring if transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can help improve negative symptoms and other psychosis symptoms in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. TMS is a device that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain. You would receive either active TMS or a sham treatment, where you hear the TMS sound and feel a skin sensation but no actual magnetic stimulation occurs. Researchers will measure changes in your brain's blood-brain barrier (BBB) water exchange rate using an MRI scan to see if the treatment is successful. The study is looking for 20 participants between 18 and 60 years old who have a schizophrenia spectrum disorder and are currently under the care of a healthcare provider. The current status of the study is unclear.

Study design: This is an interventional study comparing active TMS to a sham treatment. It plans to enroll 20 participants.
What's involved: You would have MRI scans at the beginning, after about 2 weeks of treatment, and after about 4 weeks of treatment. The study involves multiple treatment visits.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Your blood-brain barrier (BBB) water exchange rate will be measured at the end of acute treatment, which is about 4 weeks from baseline.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Recruiting

NAAges 18–60InterventionalTreatment

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

~20 participants

Updated 2026-03-24 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:TMSsham

At a glance

Recruiting sites

1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Change in blood-brain barrier (BBB) water exchange rate at AG obtained from MRI scan

Measured over baseline (before treatment visit 1), midpoint (after treatment visit 10; about 2 weeks from baseline), and end of acute treatment (after treatment visit 20; about 4 weeks from baseline)

Conditions

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

Texas1

Study leadership

Xiaoming Du, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Who to contact

Xiaoming Du, PhD

[email protected]

443-882-9717

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Ability to give written informed consent

Diagnosed with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and Evaluation to Sign Consent (ESC) above 10.

Is currently under the care of a licensed primary care provider or mental healthcare provider (e.g., psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse practitioner, licensed clinical social worker).

Have negative symptoms as determined by BNSS score of 20 or more.

Agrees to provide written permission, as requested, to allow any and all forms of communication between the investigators and study staff and any health care provider who currently provides and/or has provided service to the subject within two years of study enrollment

Exclusion

Persons with a first-degree relative with inherited epilepsy, seizure disorder, or seizures or persons who answer "yes" to any of the parts (A. - G.) of Question 3 of an epilepsy screening questionnaire.

Taking \> 400 mg clozapine/day and not on anti-seizure medication(s) with sufficient dose.

Failed TMS screening questionnaire.

Significant alcohol or other drug use (substance dependence within the recent months) or positive urine toxicology screen for substance not prescribed other than nicotine or marijuana dependence.

Any major medical illnesses that may affect normal brain functioning. Examples of these conditions include, but not limited to, stroke, Central nervous System (CNS)infection or tumor, other significant brain neurological conditions.

Cardiac pacemakers, implanted medication pumps, intracardiac lines, or acute, unstable cardiac disease, with intracranial implants (e.g. aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes) or any other metal object within or near the head, excluding the mouth, that cannot be safely removed.

History of head injury with loss of consciousness over 10 minutes; history of brain surgery

0 Cannot refrain from using alcohol and/or marijuana 24 hours or more prior to experiments.

Woman who is pregnant (child-bearing potential but not on contraceptive and missing menstrual period; or by self-report; or by positive pregnancy test) or has had unprotected sexual intercourse without birth control in the last 4 weeks.

Moderate-High Risk of suicide according to the Columbia - Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) Screen Version - Recent (i.e. answers YES to Question 2 and NO to Question 6 (Moderate risk); or answers YES to Questions 3 (Moderate risk), 4, 5, or 6 (High risk) or in the clinical judgement of the investigator or the study psychiatrist.

History (or family history) of deep vein thrombosis.

What this trial measures

Change in blood-brain barrier (BBB) water exchange rate at AG obtained from MRI scanbaseline (before treatment visit 1), midpoint (after treatment visit 10; about 2 weeks from baseline), and end of acute treatment (after treatment visit 20; about 4 weeks from baseline)

Trialytics