Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 4

Conditions: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders

Treatments: Device: transcranial magnetic stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT00134446

Hitchcock Foundation

WRJVAMC16744

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine if transcranial magnetic stimulation at 1 HZ to the right frontal cortex will decrease the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Full description

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that is common in the general population. PTSD symptoms include re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, and increased arousal. The primary treatments of PTSD are psychotherapy and antidepressant medications. While both are effective, many patients continue to have significant symptoms. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a new research and treatment modality that uses a small powerful electromagnet to directly stimulate the brain. This stimulation may increase or decrease brain activity. The treatments have been shown to be effective in other disorders such as depression. Initial treatment of patients with PTSD using rTMS has been hopeful. This study is the first randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of rTMS for PTSD.

This study would be the first randomized placebo controlled trial to examine the efficacy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for PTSD. The primary hypothesis is that there will be significant improvement in the patients' PTSD symptoms from pre-treatment to post-treatment with rTMS. A secondary hypothesis is that the patients' co-morbid depressive symptoms will improve from pre-treatment to post-treatment. Forty subjects with PTSD will be recruited from the White River Junction VAMC. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either active rTMS or sham rTMS. Patients, staff performing the treatments, and staff completing the assessments will all be blinded to active or sham treatment.

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• PTSD diagnosis on standardized assessment
• Medically stable
• Eligible veteran of United States (US) military

Exclusion criteria

• Active substance abuse
• History of seizures
• Metal in head or neck

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind