Effects mentioned of TFU / IRM active fictitious and differences per group of patients. Credit: Molecular psychiatry (2025). DOI: 10.1038 / S41380-025-03033-W
Patients suffering from depression, anxiety and disorders related to trauma underwent significant relief from their symptoms after a new treatment that uses sound waves to modulate deep brain activity, according to new research from Dell Medical School from Texas University to Austin.
The study, published in Molecular psychiatryDemonstrates that low -intensity focused ultrasonic technology may target and effectively amygdal – a brain region known to be hyperactive in mood and anxiety disorders – without surgery or invasive procedures.
“Participants have shown marked improvements through a range of symptoms after only three weeks of daily treatment,” said Gregory Fonzo, Ph.D., principal of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Dell Med behavior. “What makes this approach revolutionary is that it is the first time that we have been able to directly adjust deep brain activity without invasive procedures or drugs.”
In the double -blind study, 29 patients with various mood and anxiety disorders received an ultrasound focused by MRI to the left amygdal. The results have shown both immediate reductions in amygdal activity, and after three weeks of daily sessions, patients have experienced clinically significant improvements in negative affect and symptoms of depression, anxiety and SSPT.
“For decades, the amygdal has been a target of interest, but access has required cerebral surgery or indirect approaches by cortical stimulation,” said Fonzo. “This technology opens a new border in psychiatric treatment, potentially offering relief to patients who have not responded to traditional therapies.”
The treatment has been well tolerated without serious adverse events, suggesting a promising safety profile as researchers go to greater clinical trials.
More information:
Bryan R. Barksdale et al, Amygdala neuromodulation with low -intensity transcranial ultrasound: a double -blind double -blind target engagement study and a non -blind one -blind clinical trial, Molecular psychiatry (2025). DOI: 10.1038 / S41380-025-03033-W
Supplied by the University of Texas in Austin
Quote: A new non -invasive brain stimulation technique shows a significant reduction in depression, anxiety and symptoms of the SSPT (2025, April 28) recovered on April 28, 2025 from
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