Abstract
Background
Neuromodulation of brain circuits important for affect, behavior, and cognition may
decrease the symptomatology and functional impairment of military veterans suffering
from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES)
techniques, such as Alpha-Stim®, have demonstrated preliminary benefit for symptoms
that commonly co-occur with PTSD, such as pain, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
However, CES has not yet been specifically tested as a treatment for PTSD. The objective
of this open-label pilot study was to examine feasibility, safety, and preliminary
efficacy of Alpha-Stim® for treatment of PTSD.
Methods
Open-label Alpha-Stim® was administered to nine veterans who were diagnosed with PTSD
via structured interview (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 [CAPS-5]) and
were taking at least one psychotropic medication. Treatment consisted of 20 CES sessions
administered at home over 40 days. Effects on PTSD symptoms, functioning, depression
symptoms, pain, anxiety symptoms, and insomnia were assessed at baseline and every
week of treatment for four weeks. Effects on PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, and
pain were assessed one month and three months post-treatment.
Results
Seven patients (78%) successfully completed treatment. There were no adverse events.
Following four weeks of Alpha-Stim® treatment, PTSD symptoms decreased by 38%, depression
symptoms decreased by 52%, insomnia decreased by 34%, and pain decreased by 11%. Significant
improvements in PTSD and depression, but not pain, persisted at one-month and three-months
posttreatment. Presumptive loss of diagnosis rates (i.e., PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 total score below 33) immediately following treatment and one and three months later
were 43%, 33%, and 29%, respectively.
Conclusions
Alpha-Stim® showed an excellent safety profile with no adverse effects. The results
suggest preliminary efficacy for improving PTSD symptoms as well as concomitant depression
symptoms, insomnia, and pain. Limitations of this pilot study include the open-label,
uncontrolled design and small sample size. These results support additional larger,
randomized controlled trials of Alpha-Stim® for veterans with PTSD.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 08, 2022
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Published by Elsevier Inc.
