http://bbs.21ic.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=679682&page=1#pid3911906
Pic does not have a programmatic reset, and the probability that you can get into the programming state is very small, and the probability that you are present is very high, which means it is not caused by this problem.
In fact, the ESD reset is basically affected by the reset of VCC and MCLR, such as when you test for an IO port, because the pic IO port has a VCC/GDN pull/drop-down embedded diode, because the electrostatic generated by the instantaneous induction high voltage crosstalk to VCC or GND, and cause the reset phenomenon.
In addition, MCU manufacturers generally give the chip ESD Test level in 4kv~8kv, the vast majority are 4KV, and the test is often destroyed after the level, PIC16 more capable of a little more, and super-level is often just reset, and AVR, MPS430, NEC, STM8, Rensa and the like are mostly destroyed by the die.
Note: The last sentence of STM32F4 note I hold the opinion