An interventional study of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) and Sham Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) in Schizophrenia / Schizoaffective Disorder, sponsored by Chunyan Zhu. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-17.
Sponsored by Chunyan Zhu · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Among 247 studies in Schizophrenia with a site in China — 61 open to participants now, 65 under way, 4 of them phase 3. Schizophrenia · China.
Among the 247 studies in Schizophrenia with a site in China, this one is the 104th largest by planned enrollment of the 212 interventional ones that give a count, is one of 23 that started in 2026, is one of 106 with no phase, reaches primary completion later than 41 of the 64 other live ones, and was the 240th registered.
3,563 studies on the registry are indexed under Schizophrenia; 491 are open to participants now.
Browse Schizophrenia studies →61 of the 247 studies in Schizophrenia with a site in China are open now. Recruiting first, the newest first:
Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University · Sites in China
Central South University · Sites in China
Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University · Sites in China
Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Tongji University · Sites in China
Central South University · Sites in China
A study can be open while its sites in China have not opened yet or have stopped. Only those recruiting at a site in China →
Of the 331 Schizophrenia studies recruiting now, 63 (19%) set no upper age limit and 257 (78%) stop at 75 or younger; 42 take children under 18; 83 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 18 Years to 50 Years · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.
The full table on the hub →This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
247 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
A study in two phases is counted once above. Listed by phase, each with its combined phases: Phase 1 25 · Phase 2 16 · Phase 3 38 · Phase 4 33
First in 2002; this study’s year is marked. 23 started in 2026.
This study's planned enrollment of 100 is above the median of 71 across 2,944 interventional studies indexed under Schizophrenia.
Median enrollment 100 across the 212 interventional studies, 300 across the 35 observational. Of the 118 that completed or were terminated, 21 (18%) have results posted.
This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
67 of 247 have an industry lead sponsor. The 10 most frequent:
This is the only study on the registry with Chunyan Zhu as lead sponsor.
Chunyan Zhu has 1 study filed under Schizophrenia — fewer than ten, so there is no comparison to draw.
19 of the studies in Schizophrenia with a site in China that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 0 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT06112067Shanghai Mental Health CenterEfficacy and Safety of Combo-stim Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment-refractory Mental Disorders | 2026-11 |
| NCT07521683NeuShen TherapeuticsA Phase II Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of NS-136 in the Treatment of Schizophrenia | 2026-11 |
| NCT06802939Shanghai Mental Health CenterRTMS for Refractory Auditory Hallucinations Based on Personalized Targets Using Magnetoencephalography | 2026-12-10 |
| NCT07493551CSPC Zhongnuo Pharmaceutical (Shijiazhuang) Co., Ltd.A Bioequivalence Study of PP3M in Patients With Schizophrenia | 2026-12-31 |
| NCT07356765Tianjin Anding HospitalBerberine in Treating Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Clinical Efficacy and Mechanisms | 2027-01 |
Among the 247 studies in Schizophrenia with a site in China, from their registry updates:
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This clinical trial investigates whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can improve the ability to distinguish between "self" and "others" in patients with schizophrenia. The intervention targets the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a brain region critical for self-awareness, using 10Hz stimulation at 2mA for 20 minutes daily over five consecutive days.
The study has two main objectives. First, it aims to characterize the underlying mechanisms of self-other boundary dysfunction in schizophrenia by comparing behavioral and brain activity patterns among three participant groups: patients with schizophrenia, individuals with high schizotypal traits, and healthy volunteers. During this mechanism phase, participants perform two computer-based self-other face recognition tasks designed to manipulate prior probability (varying the proportion of self vs. other faces across blocks) and perceptual uncertainty (adjusting the Gaussian blur level of face images), while their brain activity is recorded via EEG. Behavioral performance (response time, accuracy, and sensitivity d') and EEG markers (alpha-band power, N170, and P1 components) are analyzed to quantify deficits in predictive coding.
Second, the study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of tACS in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. The primary hypothesis is that active tACS, compared to sham stimulation, will significantly improve patients' accuracy in distinguishing self from other faces, accompanied by enhanced alpha-band brain oscillations and reduced scores on the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE) scale.
All participants will undergo clinical assessments, complete the face recognition tasks while their brain activity is monitored via EEG, and complete follow-up assessments 48 hours after the last stimulation session. The findings from this study may provide a novel, mechanism-based non-pharmacological intervention for addressing core self-disturbance in schizophrenia, potentially improving patients' social functioning and quality of life.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants receive 10Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at 2mA intensity, targeting the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), for 20 minutes per day over 5 consecutive days.
Device: Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)
Participants receive sham stimulation with identical electrode placement and procedures as the active group, but current is delivered only during the 30-second ramp-up and ramp-down periods, with no active stimulation for the remainder of the 20-minute session.
Device: Sham Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)
10Hz tACS with 2mA intensity, 20 minutes per day
Sham stimulation with identical electrode placement and procedures as the active tACS group. Current is delivered only during the 30-second ramp-up and ramp-down periods, with no active stimulation for the remainder of the 20-minute session.
Change in Self-Other Face Recognition Sensitivity (d')
Change from baseline in the sensitivity index (d') measured by the self-other face recognition task at 48 hours after the last tACS session. Participants distinguish between self and other faces under varying prior probability and perceptual uncertainty conditions. The sensitivity index (d') is dimensionless; a higher value indicates better ability to differentiate between self and other faces.
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 48 hours after the last tACS session
Change in Medial Prefrontal Cortex Alpha-Band Oscillatory Power
Change from baseline in alpha-band (8-13 Hz) oscillatory power measured by electroencephalography (EEG) over the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) at 48 hours after the last tACS session. Alpha-band power is assessed during resting-state and self-other face recognition task performance to evaluate the neural effects of the intervention.
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 48 hours after the last tACS session
Plan to share: Undecided
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Mar 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Sep 2027, 17 months after the start.
Of 753 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Schizophrenia, half reached primary completion within 33 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 17 and three quarters within 56. This study's planned 17 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 766 studies reached it within 32 months; a quarter within 16 and three quarters within 56.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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