Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment Options

Individualized, Brain-Based Care

A Brain-based, Noninvasive Approach

Support for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex mental health condition that can develop after exposure to traumatic events such as combat, violence, accidents, or prolonged stress. Symptoms may affect emotional regulation, sleep, concentration, and daily functioning.

Common PTSD Symptoms

Symptoms of PTSD vary by individual and may appear shortly after a traumatic event or years later. They may include:

  • Intrusive memories or flashbacks
  • Nightmares or sleep disruption
  • Hypervigilance or exaggerated startle response
  • Emotional numbing or detachment
  • Anxiety or panic symptoms
  • Irritability or difficulty regulating emotions
  • Avoidance of trauma-related reminders
  • Difficulty concentrating

PTSD may occur alongside other conditions such as depression, anxiety, or traumatic brain injury.

While some individuals recover over time, others experience persistent symptoms that interfere with quality of life. For these individuals, further evaluation and additional treatment options may be appropriate.

 
Man with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), hand on his head.

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Coordinator to Learn More

949-418-1108

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woman with PTSD with head on hands and stressed at work

A Brain-Based Perspective on PTSD

Research suggests that PTSD may be associated with changes in how certain brain networks regulate stress, emotion, and threat response. In some individuals, these changes can be observed through patterns of brain activity.

At Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach, we use clinical evaluation and diagnostic tools such as quantitative EEG to better understand these patterns. This information helps determine whether an individualized, brain-based approach may be appropriate as part of a broader care plan.

MeRT and PTSD

One approach used at our clinic is MeRT® (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy), an EEG-guided, non-invasive method that incorporates diagnostic information to inform treatment planning.

The equipment used is FDA-cleared. rTMS is FDA-approved for Major Depressive Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and is used off-label for other conditions, including PTSD.

Not all patients are candidates for this approach. Treatment decisions are based on clinical evaluation, diagnostic findings, and individual needs.

Because we customize treatment specifically for you, this can lead to significant clinical improvements. 

The equipment used is FDA-cleared and rTMS is FDA-approved to treat Major Depressive Disorder and OCD. It is used off-lable to treat other neurological-related conditions, including PTSD treatment.

More about MeRT

“It was absolutely terrifying to not know what was wrong with me or how to fix the problem. MeRT not only identified the deteriorated state of my brainwave activity, they restored its function.” – Scot Spooner, US Army Veteran

Scot Spooner talking about his PTSD treatment

Research on Neuromodulation and PTSD

A growing body of peer-reviewed research has explored the use of neuromodulation, including rTMS, for symptoms associated with PTSD. Studies suggest potential benefits for select symptoms such as sleep disruption, mood regulation, and anxiety in certain populations.

Because PTSD presents differently across individuals, ongoing research continues to explore how individualized approaches may best be applied.

A retrospective chart review to assess the impact of alpha- guided transcranial magnetic stimulation on symptoms of PTSD and depression in active-duty special operations service members, 21 June 2024. “This data provides a demonstration of significant reduction in PTSD and depression symptoms and safety with the application of a-rTMS in active-duty special operations military personnel. Expansion of targeted neuromodulation programs could be impactful for military and civilian populations.”

How Electric Therapy Is Curing Navy SEALs of PTSD, Jan 2019. “Hundreds of vets have tried out an experimental new treatment that could change how the world addresses mental disorders.” And, “All said that they saw big improvements after a course of therapy that ran five days a week for about four weeks.”

Synchronized transcranial magnetic stimulation for posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid major depression:  “All participants demonstrated significant reductions in PTSD and MDD symptoms (all p < .001). As expected, there were significant reductions in symptoms in both treatment groups, but active stimulation did provide greater reductions in count of PTSD moderate-to-severe symptoms.”

Magnetic Resonance Therapy Improve Clinical Phenotype and EEG Alpha Power in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, in Trauma Monthly, November 2015.   ‘This study suggests that non-invasive neuromodulation magnetic resonance therapy may lead clinical improvements as well as a trend toward normalization of EEG pathophysiology in PTSD.”

Magnetic E-Resonant Therapy Alleviates Combat Related Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, in Aerospace Medical Association, March 2017.   “Our preliminary results suggest that transcranial MeRT may provide an alternate method to help veterans suffering from PTSD.”

Individualized Electromagnetic Treatment in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: a Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-controlled Trial, Poster Accepted, Taghva, et al.  “This double-blind, randomized, controlled trial shows that transcranial magnetic therapy based on individualized frequencies derived from EEG/EKG is an effective therapy for PTSD in improving overall symptoms and quality of sleep.”

EEG_EKG Guided TMS in veterans with PTSD_Randomized double-blinded pilot study.  “Following 2 weeks of EEG-EKG guided transmagnetic stimulation, significant changes in symptom severity and EEG measures are reported for 80 retired military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Patients had greatest comparative reductions in PCL-M subscales VII “avoid situation indicator” XII “short future indicator” and XIII “trouble falling or staying asleep indicator”. The improvement in sleep was confirmed for treated vs sham group in PSQI-A, and, may suggest correlation between sleep disorder and PTSD symptoms. Of the 37 patients who had suicidal ideation by HAM-D, 29 patients denied ideation by 4 weeks. No patient worsened in clinical PTSD symptoms after receiving therapy. “

Low-frequency, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: a Double-blind, Sham-controlled Study, Nam et al, 2013.  “The present study showed low-frequency rTMS to be an effective and tolerable option for the treatment of PTSD. Trials using variable indices of rTMS to the right prefrontal cortex and explorations of the differences in the effects on specific symptom clusters may be promising avenues of research regarding the use of rTMS for PTSD.

Call Our New Patient
Coordinator to Learn More

949-418-1108

Or fill out the form at the bottom of the page and we will contact you 

More Patient Stories

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949-806-3396

Service Members & TRICARE Coverage

Brain Treatment Center Newport Beach is honored to serve uniformed service members, veterans, and their families.

We are in-network with TRICARE for FDA-approved rTMS therapy for Major Depressive Disorder when coverage criteria are met.

TRICARE does not cover MeRT. Our team can review benefits and discuss appropriate options based on diagnosis and eligibility.

Read more about Tricare Coverage

Next Steps

If you are experiencing persistent PTSD symptoms and would like to explore additional evaluation options, our team is available to help.

Our New Patient Coordinator can answer questions, explain the evaluation process, and assist with scheduling.

Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More

(949) 418-1108

Or fill out the Contact Form below and we will contact you. 

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Absolute Contraindications

Absolute contraindications for cortical MeRT treatment: Pacemaker, Defibrillator, Vagal Nerve Stimulator, VP Shunt/ Magnetic intracranial shunts, Deep Brain Stimulator, Epidural Cortical stimulator, Steel shunts/stents, Cranial metal fragments (i.e. shrapnel, excluding titanium), Cochlear implant, Aneurysm clips, coils, pipelines flow diversion, Pregnant or breastfeeding, Primary brain cancer / metastatic lesions in brain (unless palliative care), Magnetic dental implants, Implanted cardio-verter defibrillators (ICD), Ocular implants.

Relative Contraindications

Relative contraindications require closer protocol attention and may or may not disqualify someone from receiving cortical MeRT treatment, depending on the doctor’s discretion and the person’s individual condition. These include: History of Seizure or seizure disorder, Titanium shunts/stents, Spinal Cord Stimulator, Hearing aids, Ferrous cortical implants, Magnetic ink tattoo, Bipolar Disorder Type I/II, Baha Implant.