Who is eligible for clinical trial NCT05435300?

Participants must meet protocol criteria for Schizophrenia. Confirm exact inclusion and exclusion requirements with the study coordinator.

Does clinical trial NCT05435300 provide travel or cost reimbursement?

Check with the site coordinator at the participating facility for travel and lodging stipend availability, and for which routine-care costs are covered.

🏛️ Verified NIH Record • Updated 2026-08-25

Does tDCS Change Synaptic Density in the Brains of Patients With Schizophrenia (NCT05435300)

🔵 Active, Not Recruiting Interventional Protocol 📊 Observational Clinical Research Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)

This study will examine changes in synaptic density with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. Synaptic density levels will be measured using a novel positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer \[18F\]SDM-8, which is currently the best-in-class method to quantify synaptic density in humans. This will be a companion study to a parent study by our group examining the effects of tDCS on treatment adherence in schizophrenia (REB #103-2018).

Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (6 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (16 items).

Location: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health — Toronto, Ontario

📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener

Instant Checklist

Check every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).

Enrolment in the tDCS-adherence parent study (REB# 103-2018). The parent study inclusion criteria are:
Male or female participants of any race or ethnicity
Inpatients or outpatients ≥18 years of age
DSM-V diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
Capable of consenting to participate in the research study
On a stable dose of oral antipsychotic drug and other concomitant medications for at least 2 months, and unlikely to undergo changes in dose during the study.

Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:

Exclusion Criteria: The exclusion criteria for this study will be the same as the parent study (REB 103-2018). The parent study exclusion criteria are:
Unwilling or incapable to consent to the study based on the MacArthur Test of Competence
Unstable medical or any concomitant major medical or neurological illness, including a history of seizures
Acute suicidal or homicidal ideation
Formal thought disorder rating ≥3 on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) P2 conceptual disorganization item
DSM-V substance dependence (except caffeine, nicotine, and cannabis/marijuana) within 1 month of entering the study
Positive urine drug screen except for cannabis/marijuana at the screening visit
Metal implants or pacemaker precluding an MRI scan or other contraindications to MRI (e.g., claustrophobia)
Pregnancy
Score \<32 on the Wide Range Achievement Test-III Additional exclusion criteria for this companion study are:
Unwilling or incapable to consent to the study based on the MacArthur Test of Competence
Exposure to long-acting injectable antipsychotics in the last 6 months

🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.

📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health — Toronto, Ontario

💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights

100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

🏛️ View Official NIH Record ↗