---
title: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Functioning in Veterans With PTSD
nct_id: NCT04207346
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: NA
sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: PTSD
countries: United States
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT04207346.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04207346"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2025-11-20
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T07:01:00.085Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Functioning in Veterans With PTSD

**NCT ID:** [NCT04207346](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04207346)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** NA
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 59
- **Lead Sponsor:** VA Office of Research and Development
- **Conditions:** PTSD
- **Start Date:** 2020-12-01
- **Completion Date:** 2025-09-30
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2025-11-20

## Brief Summary

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common and serious condition affecting many Veterans. There are effective treatments for PTSD, but additional treatments are needed in order to better serve Veterans suffering from PTSD. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is one such promising treatment. It involves use of powerful magnet to stimulate the specific brain regions in Veterans with PTSD. Transcranial magnetic stimulation has been shown effective in treating depression, but currently it is unclear if it is an effective treatment for PTSD. This is a randomized clinical trial enrolling 91 Veterans with PTSD comparing the effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment and sham transcranial magnetic stimulation in treating PTSD. The hypothesis is that those who receive transcranial magnetic stimulation will experience improved functioning.

## Detailed Description

Background Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an often chronic and disabling condition prevalent in the Veteran population. While there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of medications and psychotherapy for improving PTSD symptoms, there has been limited study of functioning as an outcome, and the role of other treatments such as somatic therapies. One promising but understudied somatic treatment for PTSD is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The characteristics of TMS treatment are different than those of existing treatments and may provide alternative treatment to Veterans who do not respond to medications and psychotherapy. Further, it is possible that TMS may have a greater effect on functioning and lead to higher rates of recovery compared with medications or psychotherapy.

Objective To determine whether Veteran participants with PTSD who receive TMS delivered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at 1 Hz have greater improvements in: PTSD symptoms, functioning, and depressive symptoms than Veterans receiving sham treatments at treatment completion and at 3 and 6 months after treatment completion.

Method 91 Veterans with PTSD will be randomly assigned to receive low frequency TMS or sham TMS. All TMS will be applied to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. PTSD symptoms, functional outcomes, and depressive symptoms will be measured for all participants at treatment completion, 3 months, and 6 months after completion.

Hypothesis Veterans with PTSD receiving TMS will have greater improvements in PTSD symptoms, functioning, and depressive symptoms at treatment completion and at three and six months after treatment completion compared to Veterans receiving sham TMS.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 19 Years
- **Maximum age:** 70 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** No

```
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age between 19 and 70
2. Moderate to severe PTSD as determined by the CAPS within 7 days of randomization.
3. Agree to have CAPS audio-recorded.
4. Ability to obtain a Motor Threshold using the TMS device during screening.
5. Patient eligible for VA healthcare.
6. If female with childbearing potential, use of acceptable method of birth control (i.e., use of contraceptives, abstinence).
7. Able to read, understand, and sign the informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant or lactating woman.
2. Current use of clozapine (any dose) or bupropion (more than 300mg per day).
3. Cardiac pacemaker or implantable defibrillator.
4. Presence of any metal object in the head, including cochlear implants, but excluding dental work in the mouth.
5. Significant central nervous system disorder (stroke, brain mass, epilepsy).
6. Seizure in past one year.
7. Current psychosis or mania.
8. Prior use of TMS.
9. Significant suicidal ideation.
10. Unstable medical conditions.
11. Current alcohol or substance use disorder (except nicotine) that interferes with the patient's ability to participate.
12. CPT or PE for PTSD in the past 2 months.
13. Changes in Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline, or Venlafaxine in the past 2 months.
```

## Arms

- **TMS** (EXPERIMENTAL) — transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at 1 Hz
- **Sham** (SHAM_COMPARATOR) — sham transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

## Interventions

- **TMS 1 hz** (DEVICE) — High-performance magnetic stimulator designed for clinical use or use in clinical trials. This specific device has a coil designed with one side that delivers active treatment and the other side that delivers sham (no stimulation) treatment. The sham side is externally identical to the active side, but internally it has a shield that prevents any magnetic energy from interacting with the patient. This arm will use the active side.
- **Sham TMS** (DEVICE) — High-performance magnetic stimulator designed for clinical use or use in clinical trials. This specific device has a coil designed with one side that delivers active treatment and the other side that delivers sham (no stimulation) treatment. The sham side is externally identical to the active side, but internally it has a shield that prevents any magnetic energy from interacting with the patient. This arm will use the sham side.

## Primary Outcomes

- **CAPS** _(time frame: Baseline)_ — The Clinician-administered scale of PTSD symptoms (CAPS) queries the frequency and intensity of symptoms of PTSD. The score ranges from 0-80 with a higher score indicating worse symptoms. It is considered the gold standard for diagnosis and symptoms assessment in PTSD clinical studies.
- **WHODAS** _(time frame: Baseline)_ — The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS) is a 36 item self-report instrument that assesses disability and function across six domains: communicating, getting around, self-care, getting along with people, life activities, and participation in society. The WHODAS has been used as an outcome of function and disability across many disorders and is commonly used in mental health treatment trials. The total score ranges from 0-100 with a higher score indicating worse functioning.
- **QIDS SR-16** _(time frame: Baseline)_ — The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS SR-16) is a 16-item self-report measure of depression. The QIDS SR-16 includes nine domains that relate to the nine primary symptoms of major depressive disorder in the DSM-IV. The score ranges from 0-27 with a higher score indicating worse depression.
- **CAPS** _(time frame: 2 weeks)_ — The Clinician-administered scale of PTSD symptoms (CAPS) queries the frequency and intensity of symptoms of PTSD. The score ranges from 0-80 with a higher score indicating worse symptoms. It is considered the gold standard for diagnosis and symptoms assessment in PTSD clinical studies.
- **CAPS** _(time frame: 3 months)_ — The Clinician-administered scale of PTSD symptoms (CAPS) queries the frequency and intensity of symptoms of PTSD. The score ranges from 0-80 with a higher score indicating worse symptoms. It is considered the gold standard for diagnosis and symptoms assessment in PTSD clinical studies.
- **CAPS** _(time frame: 6 months)_ — The Clinician-administered scale of PTSD symptoms (CAPS) queries the frequency and intensity of symptoms of PTSD. The score ranges from 0-80 with a higher score indicating worse symptoms. It is considered the gold standard for diagnosis and symptoms assessment in PTSD clinical studies.
- **WHODAS** _(time frame: 2 weeks)_ — The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS) is a 36 item self-report instrument that assesses disability and function across six domains: communicating, getting around, self-care, getting along with people, life activities, and participation in society. The WHODAS has been used as an outcome of function and disability across many disorders and is commonly used in mental health treatment trials. The total score ranges from 0-100 with a higher score indicating worse functioning.
- **WHODAS** _(time frame: 3 months)_ — The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS) is a 36 item self-report instrument that assesses disability and function across six domains: communicating, getting around, self-care, getting along with people, life activities, and participation in society. The WHODAS has been used as an outcome of function and disability across many disorders and is commonly used in mental health treatment trials. The total score ranges from 0-100 with a higher score indicating worse functioning.
- **WHODAS** _(time frame: 6 months)_ — The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS) is a 36 item self-report instrument that assesses disability and function across six domains: communicating, getting around, self-care, getting along with people, life activities, and participation in society. The WHODAS has been used as an outcome of function and disability across many disorders and is commonly used in mental health treatment trials. The total score ranges from 0-100 with a higher score indicating worse functioning.
- **QIDS SR-16** _(time frame: 2 weeks)_ — The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS SR-16) is a 16-item self-report measure of depression. The QIDS SR-16 includes nine domains that relate to the nine primary symptoms of major depressive disorder in the DSM-IV. The score ranges from 0-27 with a higher score indicating worse depression.
- **QIDS SR-16** _(time frame: 3 months)_ — The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS SR-16) is a 16-item self-report measure of depression. The QIDS SR-16 includes nine domains that relate to the nine primary symptoms of major depressive disorder in the DSM-IV. The score ranges from 0-27 with a higher score indicating worse depression.
- **QIDS SR-16** _(time frame: 6 months)_ — The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS SR-16) is a 16-item self-report measure of depression. The QIDS SR-16 includes nine domains that relate to the nine primary symptoms of major depressive disorder in the DSM-IV. The score ranges from 0-27 with a higher score indicating worse depression.

## Locations (1)

- White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT, White River Junction, Vermont, United States

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.white river junction va medical center, white river junction, vt|white river junction|vermont|united states` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

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*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04207346*  
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