Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Functioning in Veterans With PTSD
Key facts
- Who runs it
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Where
- White River Junction, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Status
- Completed
- People taking part
- 59 people enrolled
- Started
- 1 Dec 2020
- Ended
- 30 Sept 2025
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets a sham (pretend) treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- TMS 1 hz
- Sham TMS
- Record updated
- 18 June 2026
Who can take part
- Age
- 19 years to 70 years
- Sex
- Women and men
- Healthy volunteers
- Cannot take part
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 20 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Age between 19 and 70
- Moderate to severe PTSD as determined by the CAPS within 7 days of randomization
- Agree to have CAPS audio-recorded
- Ability to obtain a Motor Threshold using the TMS device during screening
- Patient eligible for VA healthcare
- If female with childbearing potential, use of acceptable method of birth control (i.e., use of contraceptives, abstinence)
- Able to read, understand, and sign the informed consent document
Who cannot take part
- Presence of any metal object in the head, including cochlear implants, but excluding dental work in the mouth
- Prior use of TMS
- Cardiac pacemaker or implantable defibrillator
- Significant central nervous system disorder (stroke, brain mass, epilepsy)
- Seizure in past one year
- Unstable medical conditions
- Current alcohol or substance use disorder (except nicotine) that interferes with the patient's ability to participate
- Pregnant or lactating woman
- Current use of clozapine (any dose) or bupropion (more than 300mg per day)
- Current psychosis or mania
- Significant suicidal ideation
- CPT or PE for PTSD in the past 2 months
- Changes in Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline, or Venlafaxine in the past 2 months
Where in United States
- White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VTWhite River Junction, United States
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common and serious condition affecting many Veterans. There are effective treatments for PTSD, but additional treatments are needed in order to better serve Veterans suffering from PTSD. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is one such promising treatment. It involves use of powerful magnet to stimulate the specific brain regions in Veterans with PTSD. Transcranial magnetic stimulation has been shown effective in treating depression, but currently it is unclear if it is an effective treatment for PTSD. This is a randomized clinical trial enrolling 91 Veterans with PTSD comparing the effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment and sham transcranial magnetic stimulation in treating PTSD. The hypothesis is that those who receive transcranial magnetic stimulation will experience improved functioning.
The 2 groups in the trial
- TMSTreatment being tested
transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at 1 Hz
Treatment: TMS 1 hz
- ShamSham treatment, for comparison
sham transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Treatment: Sham TMS
Data and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Record updated
- 18 June 2026