| Keywords [eng] |
schizophrenia, transcranial magnetic stimulation, neuromodulation, electroencephalography, TMS, rTMS, EEG, spectral band power, auditory hallucinations |
| Abstract [eng] |
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder associated with significant cognitive, emotional and behavioural disturbances. Neuromodulation techniques, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, demonstrate potential in managing treatment-resistant symptoms, particularly auditory verbal hallucinations. The main objective of this thesis was to investigate the electrophysiological effects of the mentioned stimulation and their association with clinical symptom improvement in schizophrenia patients. Specific goals included evaluating EEG spectral power changes in theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands pre- and post-rTMS, evaluating symptom severity using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and exploring correlations between EEG changes and clinical outcomes. Seventeen schizophrenia patients were included in the study, with EEG data collected before and after targeted rTMS treatment of the left temporoparietal junction. EEG analysis revealed significant reductions in theta and beta band power following treatment. Additionally, in a clinical context, a notable improvement in PANSS positive scores was observed, correlating with electrophysiological findings. The study demonstrates that EEG spectral power, especially within theta and beta bands, is a reliable indicator of therapeutic response to the alternative treatment. Results imply that targeted neuromodulation effectively normalises cortical hyperactivity associated with positive symptoms in schizophrenia, providing a foundation for further development of EEG-informed rTMS interventions. |
