A potential new treatment for schizophrenia could be on the horizon.
The experimental approach may offer hope to people living with this chronic, severe mental disorder. It involves just 10 minutes of gentle, noninvasive ultrasound.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health found that sending focused sound waves deep into the brain may reduce delusions in people whose symptoms continue despite treatment with psychiatric medication.
Known as transcranial ultrasound stimulation, the technique directs sound waves at a small, deep-brain structure called the globus pallidus interna. This region helps regulate movement, thought and emotions, but is challenging to reach without invasive surgery.
In a study involving 10 men and women with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, scientists found that one 10-minute session led to a significant reduction in delusions — false beliefs that a person experiences as real.
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Following the ultrasound treatment, participants’ delusion scores fell by an average of 1.2 points on a seven-point clinical scale.
Although the change may appear modest, the same participants showed no improvement after receiving a sham treatment.
“Our results offer early evidence that a single session of transcranial ultrasound stimulation can safely ‘tune’ a brain circuit linked to psychosis and lead to a noticeable drop in delusions,” said lead researcher Wei Qi, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Reported side effects — including headaches, fatigue and temporary increases in psychotic symptoms — were mild and brief.
The findings were published Oct. 20 in the journal npj Acoustics.
