Effects of tDCS Combined With Retrieval Practice on Semantic Memory in Patients With Schizophrenia

NCT06538259 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: No.2023023
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 52
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The semantic processing deficit stands as a central feature of cognitive abnormalities in schizophrenia. Both transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and retrieval practice have been demonstrated as external techniques capable of ameliorating the semantic processing deficit in individuals with schizophrenia. The inquiry examines whether the combined effect of tDCS and retrieval practice, following tDCS intervention targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) in patients with schizophrenia, contributes to the preservation of semantic memory in these individuals. Investigators recruited 52 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia from hospitals. After five consecutive days of tDCS intervention (2 mA × 20 mins, twice per day), Investigators administered a word list memorization task comparing retrieval practice and restudy strategies. Subsequently, Investigators observed their immediate and delayed memory performance through tests.

Conditions

Schizophrenic Patients

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• The correct recall rate of word lists

  The correct recall rate of word lists was calculated for each subject by the experimental assistant.

  5mins to 24 hours

• Adjusted Ratio of Clustering (ARC)

  Free recall organization was measured by the Adjusted Ratio of Clustering (ARC) scores

  5mins to 24 hours

Study Arms (2)

anodal group

EXPERIMENTAL

In the anodal group, the anode was placed over the left DLPFC (F3), and the cathode was placed over the contralateral supraorbital area (FP2). A direct current of 2mA was applied for 20 minutes during each stimulation session. Stimulation was conducted twice a day, at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., for 5 consecutive days, totaling 10 sessions.

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)-anodal group

sham group

SHAM COMPARATOR

In the sham group, the stimulation parameters, including the stimulation site and duration, were identical to those of the anodal group. However, during the 10-second ramp-up and ramp-down periods before and after stimulation, patients were unaware that the current was turned off.

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)-sham group

Interventions

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)-anodal group DEVICE

2mA/20mins/session; 2sessions/day,5days

anodal group

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)-sham group DEVICE

0mA/20mins/session; 2sessions/day,5days

sham group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Meeting the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5);
• Aged 18 years or older, regardless of gender, with an educational level of elementary school or above;
• All patients received stable-level antipsychotic medication treatment, were in a stable phase of disease treatment, able to understand the testing requirements, and cooperated to complete all research tasks;
• No history of neurological disorders or other serious physical illnesses, and no history of intellectual disability;
• No color blindness, color weakness, or other color vision impairments, with normal vision or corrected vision.

You may not qualify if:

• Clear cognitive impairment caused by somatic or cerebral organic lesions, such as cerebrovascular diseases, traumatic brain injury, etc;
• Individuals with mental disorders caused by substance dependence or abuse, or the use of psychoactive substances;
• History of brain injury or other central nervous system-related organic diseases;
• Individuals at significant risk of suicide or harming others;
• Participation in similar experiments in the past 30 days prior to baseline.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northeast Normal University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Northwest Normal University

Lanzhou, Gansu, 730070, China

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Cavendish BA, de Lima MFR, Pericoli L, Buratto LG. Effects of combining retrieval practice and tDCS over long-term memory: A randomized controlled trial. Brain Cogn. 2022 Feb;156:105807. doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2021.105807. Epub 2021 Dec 20.

  PMID: 34949566 BACKGROUND

• Javadi AH, Walsh V. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates declarative memory. Brain Stimul. 2012 Jul;5(3):231-241. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2011.06.007. Epub 2011 Jul 26.

  PMID: 21840287 BACKGROUND

• Sreeraj VS, Bose A, Chhabra H, Shivakumar V, Agarwal SM, Narayanaswamy JC, Rao NP, Kesavan M, Varambally S, Venkatasubramanian G. Working memory performance with online-tDCS in schizophrenia: A randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled, partial cross-over proof-of-concept study. Asian J Psychiatr. 2020 Apr;50:101946. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.101946. Epub 2020 Feb 11.

  PMID: 32087502 BACKGROUND

• Guimond S, Hawco C, Lepage M. Prefrontal activity and impaired memory encoding strategies in schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res. 2017 Aug;91:64-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.02.024. Epub 2017 Mar 8.

  PMID: 28325680 BACKGROUND

• Kim J, Iwata Y, Plitman E, Caravaggio F, Chung JK, Shah P, Blumberger DM, Pollock BG, Remington G, Graff-Guerrero A, Gerretsen P. A meta-analysis of transcranial direct current stimulation for schizophrenia: "Is more better?". J Psychiatr Res. 2019 Mar;110:117-126. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.12.009. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

  PMID: 30639917 BACKGROUND

• Jantzi C, Mengin AC, Serfaty D, Bacon E, Elowe J, Severac F, Meyer N, Berna F, Vidailhet P. Retrieval practice improves memory in patients with schizophrenia: new perspectives for cognitive remediation. BMC Psychiatry. 2019 Nov 11;19(1):355. doi: 10.1186/s12888-019-2341-y.

  PMID: 31711448 BACKGROUND

• Pan W, Li T, Ma X, Huo X. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with retrieval practice on semantic memory in patients with schizophrenia. BMC Psychiatry. 2025 Mar 7;25(1):214. doi: 10.1186/s12888-025-06530-y.

  PMID: 40055696 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Electric Stimulation Therapy; Therapeutics; Convulsive Therapy; Psychiatric Somatic Therapies; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Electroshock; Psychological Techniques

Study Officials

• Xiaofeng Ma, Professor

  Northwest Normal University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 27, 2024
• First Posted: August 5, 2024
• Study Start: July 24, 2023
• Primary Completion: January 30, 2024
• Study Completion: April 15, 2024
• Last Updated: August 5, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)