SEEG-Guided DBS for Schizophrenia

June 22, 2026 updated by: Bomin Sun, Ruijin Hospital

Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment-Refractory Schizophrenia: Individualized Target Selection and Efficacy

This is a prospective, randomized, interventional study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SEEG-guided deep brain stimulation (DBS) for symptom improvement in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Using stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) to record brain activity, we will identify specific abnormal electrophysiological targets and signal features associated with clinical symptoms, followed by a 12-month open-label stimulation period. The study is conducted in three stages: Stage 1 consists of SEEG brain mapping, screening of intervention targets, and optimization of stimulation parameters; Stage 2 consists of DBS implantation surgery and further optimization of stimulation parameters; Stage 3 is a randomized crossover treatment phase, followed by an open-label treatment period.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This clinical trial aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of SEEG-guided target screening combined with individualized deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment-refractory schizophrenia.

The study first employs Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes as the core tool to establish a personalized, minimally invasive neuromodulation surgical framework. After SEEG electrode implantation, researchers will collect and analyze high-spatiotemporal-resolution electrophysiological data during both resting-state and task-state conditions, as well as identify characteristic electrophysiological biomarkers that correlate with clinical symptoms.

Secondly, electrical stimulation is delivered through the SEEG contacts to functionally verify candidate targets in different brain regions. By stimulating specific targets and observing immediate symptomatic or physiological responses, we validate the effects on neural circuits and confirm their functional relevance prior to any permanent intervention. For targets that show preliminary efficacy, we further apply externalized chronic stimulation to continuously monitor symptom improvement and potential adverse effects.

After determine the optimal targets and the intervention is confirmed to be both effective and safe, we implant a permanent brain pacemaker (DBS device). During the efficacy follow-up phase, we employ a randomized crossover design, which is then followed by an open-label period. These two stages enable thorough assessment of clinical efficacy. Meanwhile, we also collect multidimensional data (clinical symptoms, cognition, and neuroimaging) to explore the circuit mechanisms of stimulation.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

46

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • China
    • Shanghai Municipality
      • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 200025
        • Recruiting
        • Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School Of Medicine
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Meets the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia.
  • Male or female, aged 18 to 55 years, with stable vital signs.
  • Currently presents with prominent psychotic symptoms, assessed as moderate or severe by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) or other equivalent scales.
  • Exhibits impaired social functioning, assessed as moderate or severe impairment by the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) or other equivalent scales.
  • Has a history of sequential treatment with at least two antipsychotic medications of different chemical structures known for strong efficacy against positive symptoms. Treatment must have been at an adequate dose and for an adequate duration (continuous treatment at a therapeutic dose for more than 6 weeks per medication), with good treatment adherence.
  • Has been on a stable antipsychotic medication regimen for at least one month prior to enrollment.
  • Capable and willing to provide written informed consent.
  • Demonstrates good compliance and is able to cooperate with all follow-up procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed with any psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia.
  • Presence of a severe personality disorder.
  • History of severe neurological diseases, such as seizures or hemorrhagic stroke.
  • Presence of structural brain abnormalities.
  • Previous history of stereotactic neurosurgery.
  • Contraindications to general anesthesia or stereotactic neurosurgery.
  • Any current or anticipated condition-including medical, psychological, social, familial support, or geographical factors-that might compromise patient safety or interfere with successful participation in the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Stim ON-OFF

Participants randomized to the Stim ON-OFF arm will first undergo bilateral stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrode implantation targeting brain regions associated with schizophrenia symptoms, followed by stimulation response assessments.

Secondly, deep brain stimulation will be performed based on the electrophysiological recordings and stimulation assessment results.

Thirdly, participants will receive active stimulation during the randomization phase for up to 12 weeks. The participants will then have their device turned off and receive sham stimulation during the crossover phase for up to 12 weeks.
Procedure: SEEG implantation
Phase 1 involves the stereotactic implantation of Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes. Following implantation, comprehensive electrophysiological monitoring is conducted, including resting-state and task-state recordings, as well as acute electrical stimulation mapping. This process aims to identify the specific pathological neural circuits and electrophysiological biomarkers associated with the patient's individual psychotic symptoms.
Device: Deep brain stimulation
Phase 2 involves individualized deep brain stimulation (DBS). Instead of relying solely on standardized anatomical landmarks, the DBS targets and parameters are precisely customized based on the individualized data acquired during the SEEG mapping phase.
Placebo Comparator: Stim OFF-ON

Participants randomized to the Stim OFF-ON arm will first undergo bilateral stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrode implantation targeting brain regions associated with schizophrenia symptoms, followed by stimulation response assessments.

Secondly, deep brain stimulation will be performed based on the electrophysiological recordings and stimulation assessment results.

Thirdly, participants will have their device turned off and receive sham stimulation during the randomization phase for up to 12 weeks. The participants will then receive active stimulation during the crossover phase for up to 12 weeks.
Procedure: SEEG implantation
Phase 1 involves the stereotactic implantation of Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes. Following implantation, comprehensive electrophysiological monitoring is conducted, including resting-state and task-state recordings, as well as acute electrical stimulation mapping. This process aims to identify the specific pathological neural circuits and electrophysiological biomarkers associated with the patient's individual psychotic symptoms.
Device: Deep brain stimulation
Phase 2 involves individualized deep brain stimulation (DBS). Instead of relying solely on standardized anatomical landmarks, the DBS targets and parameters are precisely customized based on the individualized data acquired during the SEEG mapping phase.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Reduction Rate of PANSS Positive Subscale or SAPS
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.
Positive symptoms are assessed using either the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale (P1-P7) or the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS). The PANSS evaluates positive, negative, and general psychopathology symptoms (total score range: 30-210). The SAPS evaluates hallucinations, delusions, bizarre behavior, and positive formal thought disorder. For both scales, higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Reduction Rate of Auditory Hallucinations (Assessed by PSYRATS-AH)
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.
The severity of auditory hallucinations is assessed using the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales - Auditory Hallucinations subscale (PSYRATS-AH). Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.
Reduction Rate of Delusions (Assessed by PSYRATS-D)
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.
The severity of delusions is assessed using the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales - Delusions subscale (PSYRATS-D). Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.
Reduction Rate of Depressive Symptoms (Assessed by HAMD)
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.
The severity of depression is assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms. The reduction rate will be calculated based on the change in the HAMD total score from baseline to each follow-up time point.
Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.
Reduction Rate of Anxiety Symptoms (Assessed by HAMA)
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.
The severity of anxiety is assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA). Higher scores indicate greater severity of anxiety symptoms. The reduction rate will be calculated based on the change in the HAMA total score from baseline to each follow-up time point.
Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.
Improvement Rate of Cognitive Function (Assessed by MoCA)
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.
General cognitive performance is assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The MoCA total score ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive function. Unlike symptom rating scales, the outcome here focuses on the positive percentage change (improvement rate) or absolute point increase in the MoCA total score from baseline to each follow-up time point.
Baseline (pre-operation), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks post-operation.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Ruijin Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 17, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 22, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 26, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 26, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SEEG-Guided DBS for TRS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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