Researchers report that a targeted, non-invasive form of brain stimulation — transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) — can calm the brain’s fear centre and reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). TMS delivers magnetic pulses to influence activity in specific brain regions; it is FDA-approved for several conditions, including depression, but not for PTSD. The Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences led the trial and used MRI-guided stimulation to personalise treatment for each participant.
Fifty adults enrolled and 47 completed the randomized, blinded study. Most were recruited through the Grady Trauma Project. MRI scans measured amygdala responses to threat before and after two weeks of low-frequency TMS. Compared with placebo, active TMS reduced right amygdala reactivity and produced significant symptom improvement that appeared after two weeks and persisted through six months of follow-up. Seventy-four percent of individuals in the active group experienced clinically meaningful symptom reduction.
Participants reported changes in how they emotionally experienced their trauma, including better management of nightmares, and some described the treatment as “life changing.” Principal investigator Sanne van Rooij, PhD, said the study shows MRI-guided stimulation can target the brain circuits involved in PTSD and move clinical care toward more precise, individualized treatments that address the biology of the disorder. The findings appear in The American Journal of Psychiatry; additional contributors are from Emory, Harvard Medical School, Wayne State University, Dartmouth College and the National Center for PTSD. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation.
Difficult words
- transcranial magnetic stimulation — magnetic brain stimulation without surgeryTMS
- non-invasive — does not require surgery or entering body
- amygdala — brain region that processes fear and emotion
- MRI-guided — directed using MRI brain images
- personalise — adjust treatment for each individual
- placebo — inactive treatment given to compare effects
- clinically meaningful — large enough improvement to affect care
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Discussion questions
- What benefits and risks can you imagine for using MRI-guided TMS as a personalised PTSD treatment? Give reasons.
- Many participants described the treatment as “life changing.” How might reports like this influence public acceptance or funding for further TMS research?
- What additional evidence or longer-term studies would you want to see before TMS is approved for PTSD treatment? Explain your priorities.
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