Abstract: Addressing the complex interplay of pharmacoresistant major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in US military veterans, a nationwide Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) program was instituted by the Veterans Health Administration. This naturalistic cohort study, conducted between October 2017 and March 2020, encompassed 770 veterans with MDD, 68.4% of whom met PTSD criteria. Standard TMS parameters targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were employed in sessions defined by a clinically sufficient dose of 30 sessions. The study utilized the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for MDD and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) to measure outcomes.
Results: Among the 770 participants, TMS demonstrated substantial and statistically significant reductions in both MDD and PTSD symptoms. In the subgroup that received an adequate dose (n=340), 41.4% achieved a positive response to MDD treatment, with a 20% remission rate. Notably, in veterans with comorbid PTSD, 65.3% experienced clinically meaningful reductions, and 46.1% no longer met PTSD threshold criteria post-TMS. Side effects aligned with the established safety profile of TMS.
Conclusions: This extensive, multisite study affirms the effectiveness and safety of TMS as a therapeutic intervention for US veterans grappling with MDD and PTSD. The results underscore the utility of standard clinical approaches, supporting TMS as a viable option within the Veterans Health Administration.
Contact Us: If you are interested in finding relief from conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and more, with the options of both Accelerated and Standard TMS Therapy, contact Countryside Neurology at 727-712-1567.
