The Clinical and Functional Imaging Effects of Non-invasive Neuromodulation on Illness Awareness in Schizophrenia
This study aims to determine the clinical and functional imaging effects of serial CVS on illness awareness in schizophrenia. Specifically, the investigators aim to: 1. Determine if twice-daily CVS for 4 weeks will improve illness awareness compared to the sham condition in participants with schizophrenia. Illness awareness will be assessed at pre- and post-CVS, and weekly thereafter for 4 weeks. 2. Examine changes in brain network activity (blood oxygen level dependent-BOLD in response to an illness awareness task) pre- and post-CVS. This will serve as a biomarker to rigorously test whether repeated CVS engages the PPA associated with illness awareness.
• Male or female inpatients or outpatients ≥ 18 years of age
• Having a DSM-V diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• Voluntary and capable of consenting to participation in the research study
• Fluent in English
• Moderate-to-severe lack of illness awareness ≤7 on the VAGUS-SR, which corresponds to a rating of ≥3 on PANSS G12 Insight and Judgment item)
• On a stable dose of antipsychotic and other concomitant medications for at least 2 months, and unlikely to undergo changes in dose during the study