Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a serious mental health condition that can deeply affect a person’s life.
It often happens after a terrifying or life-threatening event, and common treatments like therapy or medication don’t always work for everyone.
But now, a small clinical study has shown a surprising and hopeful result: all nine people in the study no longer met the criteria for PTSD after receiving a new type of treatment.
The study was done by scientists from The University of Texas at Dallas and Baylor University Medical Center. It tested a treatment that combines regular therapy with something called vagus nerve stimulation, or VNS.
VNS is a technique where a small device sends mild electrical signals to a nerve in the neck. This nerve is important because it helps control mood, stress, and other brain functions.
In this trial, the researchers used VNS during a type of therapy called prolonged exposure therapy.
This therapy helps people slowly face their fears in a safe way, so they can begin to heal.
What’s new here is that the therapy was combined with short bursts of nerve stimulation, delivered by a tiny device implanted under the skin of the neck.
After 12 sessions of therapy with VNS, the researchers followed up with the patients for six months. Amazingly, all nine participants remained free of PTSD symptoms during that time. Normally, it’s rare for patients to completely lose the diagnosis, so these results are very exciting.
The research team has been working with VNS for over 13 years. They’ve already helped get FDA approval for using it to improve arm movement in stroke patients. Their goal has always been to improve how well existing therapies work. They believe that by pairing VNS with therapy, the brain can change more easily—a process called neuroplasticity.
PTSD affects about 5% of adults in the U.S. each year, and women are twice as likely to be affected. Many people with PTSD don’t respond to medication or therapy alone. Some suffer side effects or give up on treatment. This new approach could offer hope for those patients.
Dr. Michael Kilgard, a lead researcher in the study, said that PTSD is not just found in soldiers or veterans—it can happen to anyone who experiences a traumatic event, such as a car accident or sudden loss. He believes that VNS could help many people who feel stuck in their recovery.
The VNS device used in this study is very small—about the size of a dime—and does not interfere with normal medical tests like MRIs or CT scans. It has been used safely in nearly 50 people in the Dallas area for years, with no serious problems.
The next step is a larger Phase 2 study, which is now happening in Dallas and Austin. This will include a “placebo” group to help confirm that the results are due to the treatment and not something else.
Dr. Mark Powers, another lead researcher and clinical psychologist, said that this new method has already changed his work. Traditional therapy for PTSD helps many people, but not everyone. With VNS, he believes the treatment is not only more effective but also easier for patients to handle.
The study, published in the journal Brain Stimulation, was a group effort. Scientists and doctors from UT Dallas, Baylor, UT Austin, Southern Methodist University, and others worked together. They say this teamwork is key to making such breakthroughs.
In summary, this small but promising study shows that VNS could be a powerful new tool in the fight against PTSD. If future trials confirm the results, this method could become a life-changing option for people who have not found relief from other treatments.
The study is published in Brain Stimulation.
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