Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
This trial aims to assess the clinical effects and tolerability of Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) as an alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia (RS).
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. are inpatients or outpatients; 2. demonstrate capacity to consent according to the MacArthur competence assessment tool for clinical research (MacCAT-CR); 3. have a DSM-5 diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder for at least 2 years, as determined by the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview - Version 7 (MINI-7.0); 4. are 18 years of age or older; 5. have demonstrated resistance to at least 2 antipsychotics of 600 mg of chlorpromazine equivalents for at least 6 weeks; 6. have a BPRS score at baseline of at least moderate severity (\>4) on one of the four psychotic items (i.e., hallucinatory behavior, suspiciousness, conceptual disorganization, unusual thought content) or at least 12 on these 4 items combined; 7. are considered to be appropriate to receive convulsive therapy as assessed by an ECT attending psychiatrist and a consultant anaesthesiologist; 8. are on an antipsychotic at an adequate dose and are agreeable to keeping their curr