TMS in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Abstract Current research indicates that therapeutic transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a safe and likely efficacious treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While the precise or ideal parameters remain under investigation, the majority of studies to date indicate clinically meaningful effect sizes for PTSD symptom reduction, which often occur alongside other symptomatic improvements, in particular major depressive disorder. This article summarizes the current evidence for different TMS treatment parameters and novel treatment options, and offers directions for future research. Given the clinical improvements observed with TMS appear similar to other first line treatments for PTSD, this article compares TMS to current treatment options, and summarizes early evidence for combining TMS treatment with psychotherapy. Finally, this article examines our current understanding of the neurobiological basis of PTSD and explores how a neurobiological framework can guide advances to better understand TMS treatment response and design novel treatment paradigms.