Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder
Official title: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - a Pragmatic, Double Blinded Randomized Trial
Run by Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force · NCT07473362 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will test whether breathing high-pressure oxygen in a chamber can help adults with PTSD who are eligible for discharge from military service.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 72 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | March 16, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07473362 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18–80 with a DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD severe enough to warrant discharge from military service and who can commit to the full course of treatments.
✕Probably not a fit
People with current or past psychotic or manic disorders, active suicidal ideation, pregnancy, untreated pulmonary or ear pressure-equalization problems, or those unable to attend the required 120 sessions are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a pragmatic, double-blinded, randomized interventional trial testing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for PTSD. Participants are randomized to receive HBOT or a blinded sham in a hyperbaric chamber while breathing oxygen at a partial pressure above 1 atmosphere. The protocol requires a course of repeated treatments delivered five days per week, with clinical outcomes measured by changes in PTSD symptoms and functional status. The trial is conducted at the INMI facility in Ramat Gan, Israel, and includes efforts to enroll both men and women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, HBOT could reduce PTSD symptoms and improve daily functioning for affected adults, offering an additional treatment option.
How similar studies have gone: Previous controlled trials in mTBI (with many participants also having PTSD) have produced mixed results, and a small unblinded PTSD-only study showed improvement but had major methodological limitations, so evidence is inconclusive.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age over 18 years and up to 80 years * Ability to understand the researcher's explanation and give informed consent. * Any sex or gender (unlike previous studies, a significant effort will be made to include women in this study) * A diagnosis of PTSD according to DSM-5 criteria with a severity that warrants discharge from military service. Exclusion Criteria: * The lack of ability to attend 120 daily (5 times/week) treatments at the INMI * Current or past psychotic disorder * Evidence of active suicidal ideation * Evidence of past or present manic disorder * Difficulty equalizing pressures, including pulmonary emphysema, significant sinusoidal obstruction, eustachian tube dysfunction, or an pneumothorax that is not drained. * Known or suspected pregnancy.
Where it's running
-
Yarpa 112
Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Evan Gur, M.D
- Email: ostyly@gmail.com
- Phone: 0542555655
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.