Researchers' Work from University of Hong Kong Focuses on Schizophrenia (Efficacy of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation In Treatment-resistant Schizophrenia: a Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis).

This article focuses on a systematic review and network meta-analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Hong Kong investigating the efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), a condition affecting about one-third of schizophrenia patients who do not respond to standard antipsychotic treatments. The study analyzed 55 randomized trials involving 1,981 TRS patients and found that low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the left temporoparietal junction (LF-rTMS-LTPJ) significantly improved positive symptoms and auditory hallucinations, with neuronavigated continuous theta burst stimulation targeting the left temporoparietal cortex (cTBS-LTPC) also showing promise. While multiple NIBS modalities improved negative and overall symptoms and were generally well tolerated, the authors noted the need for further large-scale trials to validate these findings and optimize personalized treatment approaches. The research was financially supported by the RGC Strategic Topics Grant and has undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]