Focused Ultrasound Calms Delusions in Schizophrenia

Professor Shy Shoham and colleagues at NYU Langone Health investigated whether focused ultrasound could reduce persistent delusions in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. In a randomized, sham-controlled pilot study involving 10 patients, a single 10-minute treatment targeting a deep brain region was associated with a reduction in delusion severity lasting up to seven days, without serious adverse effects. Shoham said the technique offers a way to precisely target small brain regions involved in thinking and behavior. Larger clinical trials are needed to establish its therapeutic effectiveness.