Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with theta burst stimulation paradigm on the executive function of schizophrenia patients

Objective To evaluate the effect of theta burst stimulation(TBS) paradigm of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS) on the treatment of schizophrenia through assessing executive function. Methods 60 patients met with DSM-4 and ICD-10 for schizophrenia disorders criteria were enrolled in this study. The group was divided into theta burst stimulation group(research group, n=30) and sham intervention group(control group, n=30). The research group and control group were assessed with the Wisconsin card sorting test(WCST) and the go/no-go task by event-related potential(ERPs) before and after 4 weeks treatment. Each test results of all groups before and after treatment were compared with each other respectively. Results Regarding the WCST test, compared with the baseline, the post-rTMS state of the TBS group showed a decrease in the error selection percentage((59.8±14.7)%), the preservative error number(55.3±18.0) and the preservative error percentage(71.3±12.6)%, but the percentage of conceptual level(71.3±12.6)% increased in the TBS group(P 0.05). Conclusions Theta burst stimulation paradigm of rTMS can improve the executive function in schizophrenic patients. Key words: Repetitive Transcranial magnetic stimulate; Theta burst stimulation paradigm; Schizophrenia; Executive function; Event-related potential