Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: 1. A psychiatrist-confirmed diagnosis of major depressive disorder in accordance with the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders.5th Ed (DSM-V); 2. A psychiatric examination by two trained psychiatrists and a diagnosis consistent with the DSM-V; 3. A history of depression of at least 12 months duration in depressed patients (including MECT) who have failed to respond to a full dose and course of treatment with 2 or more antidepressants of different mechanisms; 4. A 17-item score on the HAMD scale ⩾ 20 at initial screening; 5. A score of ≤ 50 on the Gross Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale; 6. The patient himself/herself or legal guardian was able to fully understand the therapy and agreed to enroll after signing an informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Persons with severe or unstable cardiac, hepatic, renal, endocrine, hematologic, and other medical disorders and co-morbidities with psychotic symptoms, including personality disorders diagnosed by history, questioning, and clinical examination; 2. Persons with psychiatric disorders other than depression (except generalized anxiety); 3. Persons with a history of substance abuse within 12 months; persons with a previous history of epilepsy, and persons with febrile convulsions in childhood; 4. Patients with a history of suicide attempts within the past 6 months or more than 2 suicide attempts within the past 2 years; 5. Women who are breastfeeding, pregnant, and patients who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant during the clinical study; 6. Contraindications to DBS surgery and MRI; 7. Years of education less than or equal to 9 years; 8. Patients who are involuntarily hospitalized.