Voices in head – the answer

– Scientists have pinpointed a part of the brain where “voices” torment schizophrenia sufferers, and partially muted them with magnetic pulse treatment, a team reported yesterday.

More than a third of sufferers treated with magnetic pulses in a patient trial experienced “significant” relief, the scientists said.

“We can now say with some certainty that we have found a specific anatomical area of the brain associated with auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia,” the team said.

“Secondly, we have shown that treatment with high frequency TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) makes a difference to at least some sufferers.”

Further research must be done to confirm the usefulness of TMS as a treatment in the longer term.

The results of the trial, not yet published in a scientific journal, were presented in Paris at a conference of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

The trial compared 26 schizophrenic patients who received active TMS to 33 patients who received dummy treatment.

“Hearing voices” can be one of the most disturbing symptoms for people with schizophrenia.

According to the World Health Organisation, schizophrenia affects more than 21 million people. – AFP