rTMS added to a brief therapy for PTSD in Veterans
Official title: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Augmented Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans with PTSD
Funded at Olin Teague Veterans Center · NIH-11249138 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A brain stimulation treatment (rTMS) is combined with a brief exposure therapy to help Veterans with PTSD feel better faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Olin Teague Veterans Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Temple, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2CX002101-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11249138 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with PTSD, particularly Veterans, who are considering first-line or brief exposure-based treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals may not respond to rTMS or to exposure therapy and may require alternative treatments.
What this research studies
This project explores whether adding repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to a short, written exposure therapy for PTSD can improve emotional control and reduce symptoms in Veterans. It builds on evidence that rTMS can aid mood and cognitive control, hoping to enhance the effects of a compact therapy that already helps many patients. The study will involve applying noninvasive brain stimulation before or during therapy sessions to see if outcomes improve relative to standard therapy alone. If successful, the approach could offer a faster, more tolerable option for Veterans who struggle with traditional long treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Veterans with PTSD may experience greater symptom relief with fewer therapy sessions.
How similar studies have gone: Early work suggests rTMS can aid PTSD treatment, but combining it with brief exposure therapy is novel and requires testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Olin Teague Veterans Center
Temple, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lantrip, Crystal — Olin Teague Veterans Center
- Study coordinator: Lantrip, Crystal
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.