Advances in neuroscience have demonstrated that many psychiatric symptoms can be approached as brain circuit disorders. These insights have translated into a range of evidence-based interventions—including electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation—that directly modulate these circuits and can produce meaningful clinical improvement, even in individuals who have not benefited from conventional care. Rapid-acting pharmacotherapies such as esketamine also provide important therapeutic benefits through distinct mechanisms. Collectively known as interventional psychiatry, these approaches represent a critical but underutilized component of modern psychiatric treatment.

This new paper briefly outlines the scientific rationale for brain circuit–based care, reviews the evidence for key interventions, and identifies barriers to implementation within public systems. It also proposes a policy framework for state-level action, including infrastructure development, workforce training, and financing strategies to support scalable access.