Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (tMS) significantly improved PTSD outcomes when combined with intensive residential therapy for military personnel and veterans.
In a randomized clinical trial involving 119 participants, those receiving active tMS showed greater symptom reduction compared to a sham treatment group. At the end of treatment, the active group had a 5.94-point lower PTSD Checklist score.
Follow-up data revealed sustained benefits: by three months, active treatment patients maintained symptom improvements while the sham group saw symptom return. Clinician-rated symptoms also favored the active group, with a 6.03-point advantage at one-month follow-up.
Depressive symptoms improved across both groups, though the benefits were more durable in the active tMS arm. Common side effects included headaches and muscle contractions, with no serious adverse events reported.
The study highlights tMS as a promising adjunct to trauma-focused behavioral therapies for severe combat-related PTSD.