Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study investigates the efficacy of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for auditory verbal hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in routine clinical practice. METHODS: In this monocentric study, data were collected on patients with schizophrenia treated by rTMS for resistant auditory verbal hallucinations from May 2020 to May 2024. Treatment efficacy was regularly assessed. RESULTS: The data of 65 patients were collected. There was a significant improvement in the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS, p<0.001), in the Brief psychiatric Rating scale (BPRS, p<0.001) and in the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (p<0.001) scores over time (from baseline up to six months). The maximum response rate (40%) was obtained after nine weeks of rTMS (on average (SD), after 30.6 (7.8) rTMS sessions). The responders were significantly younger than non-responders (p=0.002). The good tolerance of the rTMS treatment allowed excellent compliance: only seven patients (10.8%) asked to stop rTMS or were non-compliant. CONCLUSION: These data show the clinical interest and the good tolerance of rTMS in daily practice in patients with schizophrenia suffering from auditory verbal hallucinations.