The purpose of this study is to determine if transcranial magnetic stimulation at 1 HZ to the right frontal cortex will decrease the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder

Condition	Intervention	Phase
Post traumatic stress disorder	Device: transcranial magnetic stimulation	Phase IV

Further Study Details: 

Primary Outcomes: Clinician administered PTSD scale (CAPS)
Secondary Outcomes: PTSD Clinician checklist (PCL); Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); Stait Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); Side effect Check List; Brief Cognitive Examination
Expected Total Enrollment:  40

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that is common in the general population. PTSD symptoms include re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, and increased arousal. The primary treatments of PTSD are psychotherapy and antidepressant medications. While both are effective, many patients continue to have significant symptoms. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a new research and treatment modality that uses a small powerful electromagnet to directly stimulate the brain. This stimulation may increase or decrease brain activity. The treatments have been shown to be effective in other disorders such as depression. Initial treatment of patients with PTSD using rTMS has been hopeful. This study is the first randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of rTMS for PTSD.

This study would be the first randomized placebo controlled trial to examine the efficacy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for PTSD. The primary hypothesis is that there will be significant improvement in the patients PTSD symptoms from pre-treatment to post-treatment with rTMS. A secondary hypothesis is that the patients’ co-morbid depressive symptoms will improve from pre-treatment to post-treatment. Forty subjects with PTSD will be recruited from the White River Junction VAMC. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either active rTMS or sham rTMS. Patients, staff performing the treatments, and staff completing the assessments will all be blinded to active or sham treatment.

Ages Eligible for Study:  18 Years   -   75 Years,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• PTSD diagnosis on standardized assessment
• Medically stable
• Eligible Veteran of US military

Exclusion Criteria:

• active substance abuse
• history of seizures
• metal in head or neck

Please refer to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov identifier  NCT00134446

Bradley V Watts, MD      802-295-9363  Ext. 5688    bradley.v.watts@dartmouth.edu

Vermont
      White River Junction VAMC, White River Junction,  Vermont,  05001,  United States; Recruiting

Study chairs or principal investigators

Bradley V Watts, MD,  Principal Investigator,  White River Junction VAMC   

Study ID Numbers:  WRJVAMC16744; Hitchcock Foundation
Last Updated:  August 23, 2005
Record first received:  August 23, 2005
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00134446
Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-08-30