Objective To explore the interventional effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on tardive dyskinesia (TD) in schizophrenic patients.

Methods A total of 105 schizophrenic patients were selected as subjects and randomly divided into 1 Hz treatment group, 10 Hz treatment group and control group, with 35 patients in each group. All three groups received rTMS treatment for 12 weeks. The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) scores were compared among the three groups. Physiological indicators such as electrocardiogram, blood routine, blood biochemistry and hormone levels were monitored.

Results After treatment, the total AIMS scores in the 1 Hz and 10 Hz treatment groups were significantly lower than before treatment, and those in the 1 Hz and 10 Hz treatment groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The reduction rates of AIMS scores in the 1 Hz and 10 Hz treatment groups were 68.6% and 65.7%, respectively, which were significantly higher than the 22.9% in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the total SANS and PANSS scores in the 1 Hz and 10 Hz treatment groups were significantly lower than before treatment, and those in the 1 Hz and 10 Hz treatment groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the total AIMS score, efficacy and total PANSS score between the 1 Hz and 10 Hz treatment groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the total TESS scores and physiological indicators among the three groups before and after treatment (P>0.05).

Conclusion Both 1 Hz and 10 Hz rTMS can effectively improve TD in schizophrenic patients with good safety and have no significant side effects or physiological damage.