Recent research from Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin reveals that a new treatment using low-intensity focused ultrasound can significantly alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

In a double-blind study, 29 patients received MRI-guided focused ultrasound directed at the left amygdala, resulting in immediate reductions in amygdala activity and significant long-term improvements in mental health symptoms.

Results indicated immediate reductions in amygdala activity, leading to clinically significant improvements in negative affect, depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms after three weeks of daily treatments.

The treatment was well tolerated by participants, with no serious adverse events reported, suggesting a promising safety profile as the study progresses to larger clinical trials.

No serious adverse events were reported during the treatment, underscoring the safety of this method and supporting further research in larger clinical trials.

The findings were published in 'Molecular Psychiatry' and highlight the potential of focused ultrasound to open new avenues in psychiatric treatment for patients who have not benefited from traditional therapies.

The findings suggest that this ultrasound technology could open new avenues in psychiatric treatment, potentially transforming how mood and anxiety disorders are managed.

Senior author Dr. Gregory Fonzo noted that participants experienced marked improvements in symptoms after three weeks of daily treatments, marking a revolutionary approach to brain modulation.

Dr. Gregory Fonzo, the senior author of the study, emphasized that this approach is revolutionary as it allows direct modulation of brain function with minimal invasiveness.

This innovative therapy directly modulates deep brain activity without the need for surgery or medications, representing a potential breakthrough for treatment-resistant mood disorders.

The study, published in April 2025 in 'Molecular Psychiatry', highlights the non-invasive nature of this technique, targeting the amygdala, a brain region involved in mood regulation, without surgical procedures.

This innovative approach may provide relief for patients who have not responded to traditional therapies, as accessing the amygdala has historically required invasive methods.