Actively Recruiting
Targeted Accelerated TMS for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Led by Brigham and Women's Hospital · Updated on 2026-02-02
40
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
106 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
B
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Lead Sponsor
M
Mass General Home Base Program
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition among veterans and active-duty military personnel, with rates as high as 30% in certain combat-exposed populations. Conventional treatments such as prolonged exposure therapy and pharmacotherapy have limited efficacy and high dropout rates, highlighting the need for novel, rapidly effective interventions. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been well established for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Traditional TMS, which involves 6 to 7 weeks of daily, weekday scalp-targeted treatment, shows open-label response and remission rates of 58.1% and 30%, respectively. However, such protocols may be impractical for military personnel with limited medical leave. A new form of accelerated TMS (aTMS) that involves 10 imaging-guided treatments per day for 5 consecutive days has demonstrated substantial antidepressant benefits within days and response rates of 69% at 1-month follow-up. This protocol has not been tested for PTSD, in part because there was no causally informed brain circuit target. In this study, the investigators will test aTMS for PTSD using a novel PTSD circuit that the investigators have derived.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Targeted Accelerated TMS for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age between 18 and 65 years
- Diagnosis of PTSD according to DSM-5 criteria confirmed by PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)
- At least moderate PTSD symptoms with a PCL-5 score of 21 or higher
- Sufficient English proficiency to understand study risks and benefits
- No new medications or increases in current medications before, during, and after the aTMS treatment
- Under care of a primary clinician responsible for psychiatric care throughout the trial
- Agreement to avoid pregnancy from screening until one month after treatment
- Agreement to maintain usual caffeine or xanthine intake throughout treatment
- No changes to routine alcohol, tobacco, or recreational drug use if used at baseline, for at least 24 hours before MRI and TMS sessions
You will not qualify if you...
History of severe allergic reactions to study medication Currently pregnant or breastfeeding Recent participation in another clinical trial within the last 30 days Presence of uncontrolled medical conditions that could affect safety
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
I
Interventional Psychiatry Research Group
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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