Auditory hallucinations are when you hear sounds that do not exist (such as hearing voices). They are often symptoms of mental health problems such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, they may also be symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy, dementia, neurological infections and brain tumours. And they are sometimes caused by lack of sleep, extreme hunger, or the use of recreational or prescribed drugs.
The treatment options for auditory hallucinations depend on the underlying cause. For example, antipsychotic medication may help with hallucinations for people living with schizophrenia. Some people find strategies such as learning to understand their voices, taking control and keeping busy are helpful in managing the condition.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation is typically done with the patient awake and sitting in a chair. The operator places an electromagnetic coil against the scalp, over a specific region of the brain, usually the left temporoparietal area. Pulses of electrical current in the coil generate rapidly pulsating magnetic fields that pass through the skull and meninges and into the targeted area of the brain. The magnetic field is relatively powerful but short lived (milliseconds). The precise mechanism of action is unclear but it produces both excitatory and inhibitory effects on cortical neurons. The amount of stimulation and the target area is adjusted for each patient. Treatment usually comprises daily or twice daily sessions lasting about 20 minutes. The number of sessions varies but it could be up to 30 sessions. The aim is to stop or reduce the auditory hallucinations.
Stimulation can be repetitive, with pulses of magnetic energy delivered at various frequencies or stimulus intensities. In the standard repetitive technique, individual pulses are repeated at a pre-set interval (repetition of pulses). In the theta-burst technique, short bursts of pulses are repeated at a pre-set interval (repetition of bursts). In the deep repetitive technique, deeper and broader brain regions are stimulated than in the standard technique.