Focused Ultrasound Shows Promise in Reducing Schizophrenia Delusions

The study, published in the journal npj Acoustics, involved 10 participants who suffered from persistent symptoms despite ongoing drug treatment. Investigators utilized focused sound waves to modulate activity in the globus pallidus interna—a brain region critical to managing thought, emotion, and movement. Patients receiving the active treatment saw their delusion scores drop by an average of 1.2 points on a clinical scale, whereas those undergoing a sham procedure experienced a slight increase of 0.4 points.

Lead author Wei Qi noted that the technique offers a way to tune brain circuits without invasive surgery. The research team employed a double-blind design, with sessions spaced a week apart to ensure participants and raters remained unaware of which session provided the active stimulation. While side effects like headaches or fatigue were reported, they were mild and occurred at equal rates in both the real and sham groups.

Senior author Donald C. Goff emphasized that while these initial results are encouraging, the goal is to determine if ultrasound could eventually supplement or replace traditional medication. Future trials will focus on larger patient cohorts and the impact of repeated sessions over extended durations. Researchers also intend to integrate advanced brain imaging to refine the targeting of the globus pallidus interna, potentially allowing for personalized intensity settings for each patient.