The treatment of recurring auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia with rTMS

Background: Auditory hallucinations are a common and disabling problem for many patients with schizophrenia and often fail to respond to optimal antipsychotic therapy. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has recently been trialled as an alternative treatment option for these patients. These studies have generally been positive, but treatment has only been provided for short periods of time and little is known about the longer-term impact of TMS on the course of hallucinations. Method: We describe two cases in which rTMS was provided to patients upon relapse of hallucinations following initial successful rTMS treatment in a clinical trial. Results: A repeat course of rTMS resulted in a marked improvement in the symptoms experienced by these two patients. Conclusions: rTMS appears to have potential as a long-term treatment for patients with auditory hallucinations, but requires ongoing systematic investigation.