Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 14 to 65

Electrical stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus for drug-resistant focal motor epilepsy

Official title: Subthalamic Nucleus Electrical Stimulation for Drug-resistant Focal Motor Epilepsy: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-controlled, Parallel-group Trial

Run by Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing · NCT06248333 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if deep brain stimulation can help people with drug-resistant focal motor epilepsy have fewer seizures compared to those who receive a fake treatment.

More Drug Resistant Epilepsy trials

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages14 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
Enrollment33 (estimated)
SponsorXuanwu Hospital, Beijing
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Beijing, Beijing Municipality)
StatusRecruiting
StartedFebruary 14, 2024
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2025
Study endsJune 30, 2026
Registry record updatedJuly 15, 2025
Trial IDNCT06248333 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are individuals aged 14-65 who have refractory focal motor epilepsy and have not responded to anti-seizure medications.

Probably not a fit

Patients who do not have focal motor epilepsy or are not refractory to anti-seizure medications may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the efficacy and safety of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) as an adjunctive therapy for patients with drug-resistant focal motor epilepsy. It is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial where participants will be assigned to either active STN-DBS or sham stimulation. The primary goal is to compare the frequency of seizures between the two groups. The study will be conducted at five high-volume centers in China, ensuring a robust analysis of the intervention's effectiveness.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly reduce seizure frequency in patients with drug-resistant focal motor epilepsy.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise with deep brain stimulation for epilepsy, but this specific approach targeting the subthalamic nucleus is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 14-65 years of age, inclusive, at Screening Visit.
* Refractory to anti-seizure medications (ASMs).
* Diagnosed with focal motor epilepsy, which meets the following items:

  1. Seizure mainly presents as focal tonic, myoclonic, or primary motor seizure (including primary sensory seizure), with or without secondary bilateral tonic-clonic seizure.
  2. After a comprehensive evaluation, the epileptogenic zone was presumed to predominantly involve the unilateral or bilateral central area (precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and paracentral lobule) or supplementary motor area according to comprehensive presurgical evaluation.
* Within 1 month prior to the Screening Visit (M-3), the following conditions are met:

  1. At least 3 focal onset seizures (with or without secondary bilateral tonic-clonic seizure).
  2. Subject is receiving at least one type of ASM\[s\], and the regimen has been stable (no addition or removal of ASM\[s\] \[not counting brief rescue medicines such as benzodiazepines\]; dose adjustments are permitted to ASM\[s\]).
* Within the baseline period (3 months after the Screening Visit \[M-3\]), the following conditions are met:

  1. The patient or their caregiver is capable of completing the seizure diary.
  2. Seizure diary shows an average of 3 or more partial-onset seizures (with or without secondary bilateral tonic-clonic seizure) per month during the Baseline Period, with no more than 30 days between seizures.
  3. The regimen of ASM\[s\] has been stable (no addition or removal of ASM\[s\] \[not counting brief rescue medicines such as benzodiazepines\]; dose adjustments are permitted to ASM\[s\]).
* After comprehensive preoperative evaluation, patients who are considered unsuitable for or refuse resection surgery, or those for whom the effects of epileptic focus resection and thermocoagulation surgery are not satisfactory.
* Informed consent signed.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed with generalized or hereditary epilepsy with ion channel gene mutations;
* Seizures mainly present as complex motor seizures (e.g., hyperkinetic, automatisms, etc.);
* Tonic-clonic status epilepticus within12 months;
* Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures within 12 months;
* Structural lesion of the subthalamic nucleus;
* Presence of implanted electrical stimulation medical device anywhere in the body (e.g., pacemaker, spinal cord stimulator, responsive neurostimulation) or any metallic implants in the head (e.g., aneurysm clips, cochlear implants). Note: Vagal nerve stimulators are allowed if the parameter remains stable for at least 3 months prior to the screening visit;
* Risk factors that would put the participant at risk for intraoperative or postoperative bleeding. (e.g., coagulation abnormalities, etc.) or the need for chronic anticoagulation or antiplatelet aggregation medications;
* IQ \< 55 or severe cognitive dysfunction, unable to complete the study;
* Diagnosed with a progressive neurological disorder (including progressive Rasmussen's encephalitis, etc.);
* Diagnosed with a severe neuropsychiatric disorder such as dementia, major depression (admission to a psychiatric specialty/hospital within 5 years or any suicidal or self-injurious tendencies), schizophrenia, or neurodegenerative disorders;
* Diagnosed with other serious physical disorders, internal diseases or severe abnormalities in liver or kidney function;
* Pregnant, or planning to pregnant within 2 years;
* Participation in another clinical study within 3 months;
* Not suitable for enrollment as assessed by the multidisciplinary team of the center.

Where it's running

  • Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing
    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.