Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is estimated to impact approximately 5% of U.S. adults in any given yearopens in new window; approximately 13 million Americans had PTSD in 2020. While effective treatments exist, including cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and prolonged exposure, not everyone completes these treatments or experiences meaningful symptom relief. Given that treatment gap, many researchers are working to develop and assess the effectiveness of new treatments, such as psychedelics or various brain stimulationopens in new window techniques.
In recent months, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two new, nonmedication treatment options for PTSD. The company Neurovalens received FDA approval for its at-home wearable device, Modius Speroopens in new window. The headset is ordered by a qualified health care professional for a patient (age 22 and older); the headset provides gentle, noninvasive brain stimulation designed to be used for 30 minutes a day. In a clinical trial, two-thirds of adults with PTSD who used the Modius Spero headset reported a clinically meaningful reduction in symptoms. The device will be available to veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as part of a clinician directed care plan later this summer.
Additionally, Wave Neuroscienceopens in new window recently received FDA clearance for their MeRT systemopens in new window, which uses machine learning to analyze a patient’s electroencephalogram (EEG) data. This EEG data is then used to personalize the stimulation a patient receives when they undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation, resulting in more individualized treatment. In a clinical trial, participants who received MeRT treatment experienced statistically significant improvement in PTSD symptomology compared with the control group.
Together these new devices reflect an ongoing effort to advance the science on brain stimulation and develop new treatment options. Learn more about neuromodulation for mental health conditions.
