The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with occupational therapy (OT) on the symptoms and cognitive function of patients with schizophrenia.
A subscription to JoVE is required to view this content. Sign in or start your free trial.
Research Article
The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with occupational therapy (OT) on the symptoms and cognitive function of patients with schizophrenia.
Cognitive impairment is a core symptom of schizophrenia, severely affecting patients’ prognosis and quality of life. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and occupational therapy (OT) show potential efficacy alone, while their combined effects on cognitive function remain to be explored. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 131 hospitalized schizophrenia patients from September 2024 to June 2025. Based on the treatment regimens documented in their medical records, patients were divided into two groups: cohort A (n=67), who received only regular drug treatment and psychological rehabilitation; and cohort B (n=64), who received additional rTMS combined with OT. The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (rBANS) scores were collected at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Independent t-tests, chi-square tests, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and linear regression were used to compare differences in symptoms and cognitive function between cohorts and across time points, to assess symptom and cognitive function improvement. There was no significant difference in general data, initial scores of PANSS and rBANS between the two cohorts (P > 0.05). After 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment, the total scores of PANSS in both cohorts were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the total scores of rBANS were significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared with week 0/4, where cohort B had a larger change than cohort A (P < 0.05). Moreover, after 8 weeks of treatment, there were significant differences in all subscale scores of PANSS and rBANS between cohort B and cohort A (P < 0.05). In summary, rTMS combined with OT is able to improve the symptoms and cognitive function in schizophrenia patients. Moreover, the effect of an 8-week intervention is greater than that of a 4-week intervention.
Schizophrenia is a set of severe mental disorders with unknown causes, characterized by abnormal functions in cognition, thinking and emotion, and leading to significant impairments in occupational and social functions1. A latest data analysis found that the incidence rate of schizophrenia has increased by 37% in the past 20 years2. The Global Burden of Disease Study showed that there were approximately 23.6 million prevalent cases of schizophrenia worldwide in 20193. Schizophrenia patients suffer from positive symptoms (for example, auditory hallucinations) and negative symptoms (for example, fla....
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Yichun Third People's Hospital (Approval No.202445).
Participants Characteristics and Allocation
The data of 131 schizophrenia patients with stable conditions who were hospitalized in the Yichun Third People's Hospital from September 2024 to June 2025 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Based on the treatment regimens documented in their medical records, patients were divided into two groups. Patients who received only pharmacological treatment and standard psychological rehabilitation were assigned to cohort A (n = 67), while th....
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
Participant characteristics
There was no statistically significant difference in general data including age, gender, years of education, course of disease, and antipsychotic drugs between the two cohorts of patients (P > 0.05), as shown in Table 1. No dropped out patient during the 8-week treatment process were included in either cohort.
Psychotic symptoms (PANSS)
Before treatment, there were no significant di.......
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
Since antipsychotics have unsatisfying effects on improving cognitive dysfunction, different non-invasive and psychosocial interventions have been developed to improve symptom levels and functioning24. This retrospective study demonstrated that combining rTMS with OT significantly improves both psychotic symptoms and cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia, with superior outcomes observed after 8 weeks of intervention compared to 4 weeks. These findings suggest that integrating neurostim.......
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
This work was supported by General Project of Science and Technology Plan of Jiangxi Provincial Health Commission (No. 202511187).
....Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aripiprazole | SPH Zhongxi, Shanghai, China | H20041506 | / |
| Magnetic stimulator | Yiruide, Wuhan, China | MagTD40 | Equipped with a figure-of-eight coil |
| Olanzapine | Hansoh, Jiangsu, China | H20010799 | / |
| Paliperidone | Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Group Ouyi Pharmaceutical, Hebei, China | H20233701 | / |
| PANSS | / | / | Symptom assessment of schizophrenia patients |
| Quetiapine | Dongting Pharmaceutical, Hunan, China | H20061218 | / |
| R | R Foundation for Statistical Computing | R 4.4.1 | Statistical analysis |
| rBANS | / | / | Measure the cognitive function of schizophrenia patients |
| Risperidone | Huahai, Zhejiang, China | H20052330 | / |
| SPSS | IBM | SPSS 27.0 | Statistical analysis |
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.