rTMS-augmented Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD

This study is looking at a new way to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans. It combines Written Exposure Therapy (WET), which involves writing about your trauma, with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). rTMS is a non-invasive device that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate parts of the brain. Researchers believe rTMS might help improve how well WET works by enhancing emotional flexibility. The study aims to see if adding active rTMS to WET helps reduce PTSD symptoms more than adding a sham (inactive) rTMS to WET. To join, you must be a veteran, speak English, have a PTSD diagnosis, and be between 18 and 60 years old. The main goal is to measure changes in your PTSD symptoms using a scale called CAPS-5, at different times up to 3 months after the treatment ends. The current status of this study is unclear, and it plans to enroll 98 participants.

Study design: This is an interventional study comparing active rTMS plus Written Exposure Therapy to sham rTMS plus Written Exposure Therapy, with a planned enrollment of 98 participants.
What's involved: Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Your PTSD symptoms will be measured up to 3 months after the intervention concludes.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

rTMS-augmented Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD

Recruiting

NAAges 18–60InterventionalTreatment

VA Office of Research and Development

~98 participants

Updated 2026-01-12 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Written Exposure Therapyrepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

At a glance

Recruiting sites

1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Change in Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)

Measured over Pre intervention (Baseline), post-intervention (Treatment Session 5), and following the conclusion of the intervention, up to 3 months

Conditions

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

Texas1

Study leadership

Crystal M Lantrip · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX

Who to contact

Crystal M Lantrip

[email protected]

(254) 297-5155

Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

All veterans are eligible to be included in the study if they meet all the following criteria:

veteran;

English-speaking and able to provide written informed consent;

diagnosed with PTSD;

between the ages of 18 and 60 years. Participants over age 60 will not be included, as aging is known to impact brain structure, and thus the potential accuracy of the rTMS target, independently of PTSD.

Exclusion

Individuals with history of seizures or other serious neurological history including acquired, developmental or degenerative neurologic illness, identified through medical chart review, will be excluded due to potential lowered threshold for seizures during rTMS stimulation.

The effects of rTMS are unknown on fetal development, therefore, women who are pregnant will be excluded.

Participants will also be screened and excluded if any of the following are met:

current psychosis including psychotic disorder,

bipolar disorder,

schizophrenia; or another severe cognitive or psychiatric disorder;

positive screen for current suicidal intent and plan \[with a score of 2 or 3 on BDI-2 item 9\];

current substance use disorder; or substance use in the last 12 hours before the rTMS session.

The investigators note that PTSD is often comorbid with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in military veterans who were deployed to a war zone. The investigators will use the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs consensus-based classification of TBI severity for classification of TBI.

Participants with moderate or severe TBI will be excluded.

Participants with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion will be enrolled. This will enhance the ecological validity of the study.

Participants with cognitive impairment as evidenced by a Montreal Cognitive Screen (MoCA) less than 23/30 or estimated baseline intellectual ability of a standard score of less than 80 on a word reading test will be excluded due to potential neurocognitive differences.

Participants on psychotropic medications will not be excluded, but participants will be required to be stable on their medication for at least four weeks prior to beginning the study and throughout the time of study.

Participants enrolled in long term, supportive psychotherapy (i.e. not an evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP)) may continue to be involved in their treatment throughout the study. However, participants involved in a concurrent EBPs will be excluded. Participants will be asked to disclose whether they chose to participate in an EBP during the course of the treatment or followup phases of the study.

What this trial measures

Change in Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)Pre intervention (Baseline), post-intervention (Treatment Session 5), and following the conclusion of the intervention, up to 3 months
The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) is a 30-item structured interview designed to make both a current and lifetime diagnosis of PTSD and to assess PTSD symptom severity over the last week or month. The assessor combines information about frequency and intensity of an item into a single severity rating. CAPS-5 total symptom severity scores are calculated by summing the individual item scores for symptoms corresponding to a given DSM-5 cluster. Severity ratings are from 0 (absent) to 5 (extreme/incapacitating)

Trialytics