A clinical trial conducted by a team at the Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Chickballapur, near Bengaluru, has demonstrated that a dual stellate ganglion block (SGB) procedure may effectively reduce anxiety symptoms in individuals with treatment-resistant anxiety. The results were published in the July-August 2026 issue of Pain Physician and involved 63 patients suffering from moderate to severe anxiety who had not responded to conventional treatments.
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Under the leadership of G. Niraj, a senior consultant in anaesthesiology, the study compared outcomes between two groups: 42 participants received the dual SGB procedure, while 21 received a sham treatment. The patients were monitored for a period of 12 weeks and showed a significantly greater reduction in anxiety symptoms in the SGB group.
The dual SGB procedure entails administering a mixture of local anaesthetic and steroid into a group of neck nerves that are part of the sympathetic nervous system, which governs the body’s stress response. Patients receive injections on both sides of the neck, with the second block administered between 24 hours and seven days after the first.
Dr. Niraj emphasized that persistent anxiety affects not only mental well-being but can also trigger prolonged physical stress responses. He noted that while SGB is not a replacement for psychological therapies or medications, it offers a valuable alternative for those struggling with anxiety that does not respond to standard treatments.
The study reported minimal side effects, with 14 patients experiencing temporary hoarseness lasting several hours and one patient reporting temporary numbness in an upper limb that resolved within six hours.
The participants had previously endured treatment-resistant anxiety, characterized by a lack of response to at least one first-line medication and one psychotherapy, each administered for a minimum of eight weeks. Most study subjects had tried multiple medications, with 46 out of 63 having attempted at least two different treatments.
The implications of these findings extend to mental healthcare access, especially in regions where psychological therapies may be less available. The research team noted that clinic-based interventions could offer a crucial option alongside existing treatments.
However, researchers have called for further studies to confirm these findings, as the trial was conducted at a single center with a limited follow-up duration of 12 weeks. More investigations are necessary to understand the long-term efficacy of the procedure and the mechanisms behind its effect on anxiety levels.