PTSDrTMS for PTSDNCT04207346
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Functioning in Veterans With PTSD
A study testing TMS 1 hz in people with PTSD, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 1 site in United States.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 19 to 70 years
- Conditions the study is for
- PTSD
- What is being tested?
- TMS 1 hz
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 59 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2020to 30 Sep 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 19 to 70 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 19 and 70
- Moderate to severe PTSD as determined by the CAPS within 7 days of randomization.
- Agree to have CAPS audio-recorded.
- Ability to obtain a Motor Threshold using the TMS device during screening.
- Patient eligible for VA healthcare.
- If female with childbearing potential, use of acceptable method of birth control (i.e., use of contraceptives, abstinence).
- Able to read, understand, and sign the informed consent document.
Who cannot join
- Pregnant or lactating woman.
- Current use of clozapine (any dose) or bupropion (more than 300mg per day).
- Cardiac pacemaker or implantable defibrillator.
- Presence of any metal object in the head, including cochlear implants, but excluding dental work in the mouth.
- Significant central nervous system disorder (stroke, brain mass, epilepsy).
- Seizure in past one year.
Show all 13Show fewer
- Current psychosis or mania.
- Prior use of TMS.
- Significant suicidal ideation.
- Unstable medical conditions.
- Current alcohol or substance use disorder (except nicotine) that interferes with the patient's ability to participate.
- CPT or PE for PTSD in the past 2 months.
- Changes in Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline, or Venlafaxine in the past 2 months.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT
White River Junction, Vermont, 05001-3833
About this study
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.
Read the 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.
- Conditions
- PTSD
- Being tested
- TMS 1 hz, Sham TMS
- Keywords
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
- Medical subject headings
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
TMS 1 hzDevice
Also called MagPro R30 TMS device produced by MagVenture
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 TMSDevice
Also called MagPro R30 TMS device produced by MagVenture
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| TMS | Experimental | transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at 1 Hz Receives: Device: TMS 1 hz |
| Sham | Sham comparator | sham transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex Receives: Device: Sham TMS |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
CAPS
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.
Measured: Baseline
WHODAS
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.
Measured: Baseline
QIDS SR-16
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.
Measured: Baseline
CAPS
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.
Measured: 2 weeks
CAPS
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.
Measured: 3 months
CAPS
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.
Measured: 6 months
WHODAS
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.
Measured: 2 weeks
WHODAS
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.
Measured: 3 months
WHODAS
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.
Measured: 6 months
QIDS SR-16
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.
Measured: 2 weeks
QIDS SR-16
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.
Measured: 3 months
QIDS SR-16
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.
Measured: 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Dec 2019
- Study start1 Dec 2020
- Primary completion30 Sep 2025
- Study completion30 Sep 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for PTSDStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by VA Office of Research and DevelopmentThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants are assigned to one of two or more groups in parallel for the duration of the study: procedure vs. sham procedure
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 59 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Sponsor type
- US federal agency
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Bradley V Watts, MD MPH, Principal investigator, White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04207346
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- D2905-R
- Acronym
- rTMS for PTSD
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Dec 2019
- Last updated
- 18 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Functioning in Veterans With PTSD
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04207346
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- rTMS for PTSD / D2905-R
- Conditions
- PTSD
- Keywords
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 59 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- VA Office of Research and DevelopmentUS federal agency
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Dec 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants are assigned to one of two or more groups in parallel for the duration of the study: procedure vs. sham procedure
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| TMS | Experimental | Device: TMS 1 hztranscranial magnetic stimulation delivered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at 1 Hz |
| Sham | Sham comparator | Device: Sham TMSsham transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 19 to 70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Age between 19 and 70
- Moderate to severe PTSD as determined by the CAPS within 7 days of randomization.
- Agree to have CAPS audio-recorded.
- Ability to obtain a Motor Threshold using the TMS device during screening.
- Patient eligible for VA healthcare.
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- Pregnant or lactating woman.
- Current use of clozapine (any dose) or bupropion (more than 300mg per day).
- Cardiac pacemaker or implantable defibrillator.
- Presence of any metal object in the head, including cochlear implants, but excluding dental work in the mouth.
- Significant central nervous system disorder (stroke, brain mass, epilepsy).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| TMS 1 hzAlso: MagPro R30 TMS device produced by MagVentureHigh-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. | Device | TMS |
| Sham TMSAlso: MagPro R30 TMS device produced by MagVentureHigh-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. | Device | Sham |
Primary outcome
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.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Bradley V Watts, MD MPH principal investigator
White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing TMS 1 hz in people with PTSD, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
CAPS (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 12 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 1 Nov 2026.