Brain zaps for schizophrenia? tiny trial tests DBS when meds fail

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18-55 years (inclusive) at the time of signing the informed consent form, male or non-pregnant female; * Meets the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria for schizophrenia; * Schizophrenia disease course ≥ 5 years before screening; * Meets the 2016 TRRIP criteria for refractory/ultra-refractory schizophrenia: previous treatment with ≥ 2 non-clozapine antipsychotics at adequate dose (≥ 600mg/day chlorpromazine equivalent) and duration (≥ 12 weeks) with no response or intolerance, or clozapine at adequate dose (≥ 300mg/day or plasma concentration ≥ 350ng/ml) and duration (≥ 12 weeks) with no response or intolerance, plus moderate or greater symptom severity; * PANSS total score ≥ 70 at screening and baseline; * No changes in medication regimen in the past 2 months; * The patient and their guardian have been fully informed and signed the informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: * Comorbid with epilepsy, severe cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination \[MMSE\] score \< 10), organic mental disorder, paranoid personality disorder, mental retardation, or addiction (other than nicotine); * Has implanted devices such as cochlear implants or cardiac pacemakers, or has undergone surgery that may affect the trial within 6 months; * Has contraindications to DBS implantation and is deemed unsuitable for surgery by the investigator; * Has participated in other drug/medical device clinical trials within 3 months before screening; * Confirmed HIV-positive; * Pregnant/lactating women, women of childbearing age with positive HCG/urine pregnancy test at screening, those unable to use effective contraception during the trial, or those planning to conceive within 3 months after trial initiation; * Other conditions deemed unsuitable for participation by the investigator.