Randomized double-blind controlled study of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of schizophrenia and depression（from Xiangyang Zhang’s group）

Mental illness such as schizophrenia and depression are threats of diseases that seriously affect human health. The impairment of cognitive function caused by mental illness has severely reduced the overall quality of life of patients with schizophrenia and depression. rTMS can be used to treat depression, and has been extended to mental illness besides depression. Evidence shows that the application of rTMS to the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may have some positive effects on the cognition of patients with mental illness. rTMS aims to treat by regulating and normalizing the default mode network (DMN) and central execution network (CEN) that perform abnormally in mental illness.

This is a large sample topic for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia and depression through rTMS technology and national multi-center scientific research cooperation. This topic uses behavioral, genetics, epigenetics, molecular biology and other methods to comprehensively analyze the demographic data, clinical performance, cognitive performance, blood-related indicators, heart-related data, bone density, magnetic resonance and electrophysiology of patients before and after treatment and during follow-up observation period.

The purpose of this topic is to explain the multiple effects of rTMS on the neural mechanisms and onset mechanisms of schizophrenia and depression, as well as its clinical role in the development and treatment of mental illness. Thereby establishing behavioral and biological indicators for the early identification of high-risk groups. It can also provide experimental basis for rTMS to become a new strategy for the treatment of mental diseases.