Do you always feel like your brain and body are always stuck in flight-or-fight mode? Do certain places, people, or situations trigger extreme panic, fear, anxiety, or traumatic memories? If these situations sound familiar, you may be among the millions of Americans who have lived through a traumatic event and continue to struggle with it every day.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. As of 2024, it is estimated that approximately 13 million adults, or 5% of the adult population in the United States, are diagnosed with PTSD or experience it in any given year. The prevalence of PTSD is notably higher among women, affecting about 10% of women compared to 4% of men. Unfortunately, a large percentage of PTSD patients do not respond to traditional treatment options – but a newly developed brain stimulation treatment is bringing hope and some relief to those struggling with PTSD.

What Are the Most Common Causes of PTSD?

PTSD occurs because the brain struggles to process and integrate the traumatic experience. Common events that lead to PTSD include but are not limited to natural disasters, serious accidents, terrorist acts, violent personal assaults, or military combat.

Instead of being stored as a normal memory, the traumatic event remains active, continually triggering the brain’s fear and stress responses. This ongoing activation can lead to a state of hyperarousal, where the individual is constantly on high alert, as well as re-experiencing the trauma through intrusive memories and flashbacks, nightmares, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Many people suffering from this debilitating condition describe it as a constant fight just to stay alive in a permanent state of reactivity to perceived threats.

The exact neurobiological mechanisms behind PTSD are still being studied, but it is known that the condition involves changes in key brain areas such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. PTSD can severely impact a person’s ability to function in daily life and maintain healthy relationships.

How Common Is PTSD Among Combat Veterans and First-Responders?

Military veterans and first responders (such as police officers, firefighters, and emergency health care professionals) are particularly susceptible to experiencing PTSD at some point during their careers. Studies indicate that up to 20% of veterans from recent conflicts such as Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom experience PTSD. This rate is even higher for veterans of the Vietnam War, with about 30% having suffered from PTSD at some point in their lives.

PTSD is also notably prevalent among first responders in the United States. Studies show that around 30% of first responders develop PTSD at some point in their careers. This rate is significantly higher than in the general population, where about 6.8% of individuals experience PTSD. The constant exposure to traumatic events in their line of duty greatly contributes to this elevated risk.

What Are The Symptoms of PTSD?

The symptoms of PTSD can be grouped into four categories: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Intrusive memories include recurrent, unwanted, distressing memories of the traumatic event, reliving the event as if it were happening again (flashbacks), and severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds them of the traumatic situation.

Avoidance involves trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event and avoiding triggers, such as places, activities, or people that remind one of the event. Negative changes in thinking and mood may involve feelings of hopelessness, memory problems, difficulty maintaining close relationships, and a lack of interest in activities once enjoyed. Changes in physical and emotional reactions can include being easily startled, always being on guard for danger, self-destructive behavior, trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, irritability, and overwhelming guilt or shame. For some, PTSD can also manifest itself in the form of unexplained physical ailments and generalized chronic pain.

What Are the Most Common Treatment Options for PTSD?

Traditional treatments for PTSD include psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy can involve methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). These therapies aim to help individuals process trauma, change negative thought patterns, and reduce symptoms. Additionally, medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are commonly prescribed to help manage symptoms of depression and anxiety associated with PTSD.

While a significant number of individuals suffering from PTSD may end up recovering on their own or with the help of therapy and medication, many PTSD patients do not respond adequately to traditional therapies and continue to experience chronic, debilitating symptoms. It is estimated that approximately 33% of individuals with PTSD do not experience significant symptom relief from standard treatments and may even be considered treatment-resistant, with as many as 50% of patients showing no response to cognitive behavioral therapy and 20-40% of patients not responding to SSRI medications.

There is no single known PTSD treatment that can be considered effective for every single case, but given how many people continue to struggle with PTSD even after trying therapy and medication, more attention is being drawn to a variety of alternative therapies for PTSD. One such promising treatment is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

What is TMS and How Can It Help?

TMS is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate specific portions of the brain that are affected by PTSD. It has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of major depressive disorder but is now being explored as a treatment for PTSD.

TMS works by delivering magnetic pulses to specific areas of the brain involved in mood regulation and is responsible for most PTSD symptoms, particularly the prefrontal cortex. These magnetic pulses generate small electrical currents that activate different brain regions and cause specific brain activity to be increased or reduced in target areas. TMS sessions typically last about 30-40 minutes and are conducted several times a week for four to six weeks.

There are two main types of TMS: traditional TMS and deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (Deep TMS). Traditional TMS uses a figure-8-shaped coil to deliver magnetic pulses to the surface of the brain, reaching a depth of about 2-3 centimeters. In contrast, Deep TMS uses a different coil design, called an H-coil, which allows the magnetic pulses to penetrate deeper into the brain, up to 6 centimeters. This deeper penetration can target brain regions that are more involved in PTSD symptoms, potentially leading to more effective treatment outcomes for some patients.

Research on TMS as a treatment for PTSD is still emerging, but the results are promising. Several studies have shown that TMS can significantly reduce PTSD symptoms in patients who have not responded to traditional treatments. For instance, a study published by the National Center for PTSD indicated that TMS could be a feasible add-on treatment or single therapy for patients experiencing treatment-resistant PTSD, especially for those individuals receiving higher-frequency doses of TMS in a specific area of their prefrontal cortex. Deep TMS has also shown positive results in treating PTSD. A recent study found that Deep TMS significantly reduced PTSD symptoms when applied alongside certain forms of therapy.

PTSD patients may benefit from TMS therapy in many different ways. Firstly, TMS is a non-invasive treatment, meaning it does not require surgery or medication. It is also typically well-tolerated by patients, with the most common side effects being mild headaches and scalp discomfort, which may resolve after a few sessions or with the use of over-the-counter pain medications. Additionally, TMS does not involve anesthesia or recovery time, allowing patients to return to their daily activities immediately after treatment.

TMS and Deep TMS treatments have been well-studied for major depressive disorder (MDD), but not specifically for PTSD. However, because depression often occurs with PTSD and patients may show improvement in both conditions after receiving TMS therapy, it is quite possible that traditional TMS and Deep TMS can be safe and effective for PTSD, especially for those who haven’t found relief with other treatments. While further research needs to be conducted on the applications of TMS for PTSD, the ability to target specific brain regions involved in PTSD symptoms makes TMS a particularly promising option that can lead to significant symptom reduction and improved quality of life.

Is TMS Therapy Right for You?

If you have already tried other PTSD treatments without much success, it may be worth talking to your doctor or mental healthcare professional about TMS. Your doctor would see if it was the right choice for you by taking into consideration your treatment history, symptom severity, and personal health goals.

With its ability to target specific brain regions and improve symptoms, TMS therapy offers a promising alternative and could be a game-changer in your journey toward better mental health, especially if traditional treatments have failed. Always consult with your doctor to discuss if this innovative therapy aligns with your needs and treatment plan.

Find Deep TMS at Plus by APN

You can also reach out to APN and speak to one of our skilled mental health professionals who can customize a treatment plan for you. APN goes beyond traditional treatment options that only treat your symptoms. Instead, the team at APN focuses on treating the whole person by leveraging an integrative treatment approach and utilizing cutting-edge techniques (including TMS and Deep TMS) to supplement therapy and medication with the goal of helping individuals achieve immediate symptom relief as well as long-term remission. If you are interested in learning more about TMS treatment for PTSD or need help with any other mental health condition, contact APN today at 424.644.6486 or complete our online contact form to get started.

References

  • Committee on the Assessment of Ongoing Efforts in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Board on the Health of Select Populations; Institute of Medicine. Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations: Final Assessment. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2014 Jun 17. 2, Diagnosis, Course, and Prevalence of PTSD. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224874/
  • Isserles, Moshe, et al. “Effectiveness of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with a Brief Exposure Procedure in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – A Pilot Study.” Brain Stimulation, vol. 6, no. 3, 2013, pp. 377-383, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2012.07.008. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.
  • “How Common Is PTSD in Adults?” Veterans Affairs, 13 Sept. 2018, www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp.
  • “First Responders: Behavioral Health Concerns, Emergency Response, and Trauma.” SAMHSA, www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/dtac/supplementalresearchbulletin-firstresponders-may2018.pdf. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.
  • “Focal Brain Stimulation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.” PTSD Quarterly, National Center for PTSD, www.ptsd.va.gov/publications/rq_docs/V29N2.pdf. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.
  • “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd. Accessed 2 Sept. 2024.
  • “Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Rtms) Systems.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/medical-devices/guidance-documents-medical-devices-and-radiation-emitting-products/repetitive-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-rtms-systems-class-ii-special-controls-guidance. Accessed 2 Sept. 2024.