Targeted accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation for PTSD
Official title: Targeted Accelerated TMS for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Run by Brigham and Women's Hospital · NCT07245641 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether short, imaging-guided accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (aTMS) can quickly reduce PTSD symptoms in adults with moderate-to-severe PTSD.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Brigham and Women's Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 15, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 2027 |
| Study ends | January 2028 |
| Registry record updated | August 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07245641 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18–65 with a DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD and at least moderate symptoms (PCL-5 ≥21/CAPS-5 diagnosis) who can undergo MRI, keep medications stable, and attend intensive daily treatment visits.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are pregnant, unable to undergo MRI or TMS, have unstable psychiatric medication regimens, or only have mild PTSD symptoms are less likely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Investigators will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial that uses each participant's MRI to identify a PTSD-linked brain circuit and then deliver circuit-targeted accelerated TMS over a compressed five-day schedule. The protocol delivers multiple imaging-guided TMS sessions per day (up to ten daily treatments) with follow-up visits to track symptom change. Eligible participants are adults 18–65 with DSM-5 PTSD and at least moderate symptom severity who can maintain stable psychiatric care and medications during the study. The trial builds on lesion-mapping work and small open-label aTMS series that reported rapid symptom improvements but seeks randomized evidence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could produce rapid symptom relief within days and higher short-term response and remission rates than conventional multiweek TMS schedules.
How similar studies have gone: Early studies—including lesion-connectivity analyses and small open-label, circuit-targeted aTMS series—have shown promising rapid improvements and high short-term response/remission rates, but randomized controlled data in PTSD remain limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria * Age 18-65 * DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD per PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) * At least moderate symptoms of PTSD per PCL-5 (≥21) * English proficiency sufficient to understand risks/benefits * No new medications or medication increases before, during, or after aTMS * Primary clinician (e.g. psychiatrist, therapist, psychologist, APRN, PA, etc.) responsible for psychiatric care before, during, and after the trial * Agreement to lifestyle considerations: * Abstain from becoming pregnant from screening to one-month after treatment (the MRI visit) * Continue usual intake patterns of caffeine- or xanthine-containing products (e.g. coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) throughout treatment * No changes to routine intake of alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs if patients are using them at baseline for at least 24 hours before the start of each MRI and TMS session
Where it's running
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Interventional Psychiatry Research Group
- Email: bwhtap@mgb.org
- Phone: 6175253526
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (gammaCore) for PTSD
This study will test whether the handheld gammaCore device, which delivers mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve through the neck, can help adults with PTSD reduce their symptoms.
-
Building Ukraine's strength in PTSD treatment
This project will try the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) protocol alongside standard PTSD treatments to see if it reduces symptoms in adults with PTSD living in Ukraine.
-
Emotional dysregulation in adolescents with complex trauma traits
Researchers will observe teens to see how emotional dysregulation shows up in CPTSD and how it differs from BPD and PTSD.
-
Grappling with Trauma: BJJ for First Responders
This program tests whether eight weeks of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be tied to changes in trauma-related symptoms for first responders who prefer movement-based activities over traditional mental health services.
-
Eye Movement Intervention with Different Memory Reactivation Procedures for Intrusive Traumatic Memories
This online trial tests whether combining eye movements with different memory reactivation tasks can reduce intrusive trauma memories in people with PTSD.
-
Trauma-informed Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD
This study tests whether adding psilocybin to trauma-focused psychotherapy helps people with PTSD see if the approach is safe and tolerable and whether symptoms improve.
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.