Using brain imaging to improve treatment for PTSD with TMS

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the default mode network (DMN) in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers aim to identify brain regions that change in response to rTMS, potentially leading to a personalized treatment approach for PTSD. Participants will undergo psychological assessments, MRI scans, and two TMS-fMRI sessions, with a total participation time of five to six hours. The study is conducted at VA Palo Alto and Stanford University.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Between 18 and 55 years of age
* Ability to maintain a Motor Threshold (MT) with single pulse TMS
* Ability to safely and comfortably undergo an MRI and TMS
* Able to read, verbalize, understand, and voluntarily sign the Informed Consent Form prior to participating in any study-specific procedures or assessments.
* PTSD diagnosis according to the DSM 5, as determined by the Clinician administered PTSD scale (CAPS-5) criteria.
* Commitment to maintaining a stable medication regimen between the two fMRI sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to safely and comfortably undergo an MRI. MRI safety will be determined by the center where MRI's are collected.
* Inability to safely and comfortably undergo TMS. TMS exclusions include any history or condition that puts patients at risk.
* Significant dementia as determined by the Montreal Cognitive Assessments (MoCA)
* Common comorbid disorders of Veterans are allowed, but PTSD must be a primary diagnosis causing significant impairment that could not be accounted for by another diagnosis. Medical or mental health conditions that interact with or confound interpretation of PTSD symptoms and anxiety would be exclusionary.
* Being in urgent need of care that would make participation impossible
* Currently taking medications that increase the risk of seizure or influence hemodynamic response
* Presence of any other condition that has the potential to prevent study completion and/or have a confounding effect on the interpretation of results.

Where it's running

• VA Palo Alto
  Palo Alto, California, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Allyson C Rosen, Ph.D. — PAVIR/Palo Alto VAHCS/Stanford University
• Study coordinator: James Lavacot, BA
• Email: james.lavacot@va.gov
• Phone: 6504935000

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.