Small psychosis study finds an ultrasound signal worth testing further
· BehindLines newsroom
A small study published on 20 October in npj Acoustics explores an experimental way to ease some symptoms of psychosis. A NYU Langone team tested brain stimulation using ultrasound in ten people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and persistent symptoms. According to the research paper, six were taking a stable dose of antipsychotic medication and four were not taking antipsychotics during the study.
Each person received two sessions one week apart: an active stimulation session and a sham session, in a randomly assigned order. Participants and the people assessing their symptoms did not know which session was active, the institution explains. Comparing both conditions in the same people helps separate a stimulation effect from expectations or the experience of attending a session.
A deep target and a limited measure
Active stimulation lasted ten minutes. Using brain imaging for guidance, researchers targeted the right internal globus pallidus, a deep brain structure. The paper describes a sham-controlled crossover pilot study. It is neither a large trial nor a treatment already validated for routine use.
NYU reports an average reduction of 1.2 points in clinical scores measuring delusions after active stimulation, compared with an increase of 0.4 points after the sham session. These are changes on an assessment scale, rather than a percentage of people cured. Reported side effects were mild and temporary, with no difference between the two conditions.
What this first trial does not establish
With ten participants, a favourable signal needs confirmation in larger groups. The duration of any benefit, the effect of repeated sessions and longer-term safety still need to be established. The authors themselves call for further research on these questions.
The study therefore tests a precise way to influence a brain circuit through a controlled comparison. These preliminary results do not justify replacing prescribed medication or changing a person's care. They open a research question without yet providing a proven therapeutic solution.