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Transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-traumatic stress disorder
Nicholas J Petrosino1, Camila Cosmo1, Yosef A Berlow1
1VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, VA Providence Healthcare System, Providence, RI, USA.
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
|November 4, 2021
Summary
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) shows promise for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when other therapies fail. Further research is needed to optimize TMS protocols and understand long-term effectiveness for PTSD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant psychiatric condition with limited treatment efficacy for many.
- Current treatments like psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are not universally effective for PTSD.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an emerging noninvasive neuromodulatory treatment for psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review over two decades of research on TMS for PTSD treatment.
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of various TMS protocols for PTSD.
- To identify gaps in current research and suggest future directions for TMS in PTSD treatment.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of the literature on TMS for PTSD.
- Inclusion of nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TMS monotherapy.
- Inclusion of five RCTs investigating TMS combined with psychotherapy.
Main Results:
- TMS demonstrates safety, tolerability, and efficacy for PTSD across multiple studies.
- Repetitive TMS targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is common, but variations exist.
- Positive outcomes are observed, yet direct comparisons between different TMS approaches are scarce.
Conclusions:
- TMS is a safe and effective treatment option for PTSD.
- Further research is required to standardize optimal TMS protocols and stimulation parameters.
- Incorporating biomarkers and conducting long-term studies are crucial for predicting and monitoring treatment response in PTSD.
