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Individualized (fMRI-guided) TMS Intervention for PTSD
Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) affects brain circuits involving the amygdala in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can MRI-guided TMS engage the amygdala by stimulating an individualized brain target connected to the amygdala? * Does stimulation of this individualized target engage the amygdala differently than stimulation of control sites? * Does a 6-week course of active TMS, compared with sham TMS, change amygdala responses and physiological responses to fear? Researchers will compare active TMS with sham TMS to evaluate changes in the targeted brain circuit and fear-related responses. Participants will: * Receive active or sham TMS every weekday for 6 weeks * Undergo MRI scans with TMS before and after the 6-week intervention to measure brain responses to stimulation * Participate in fear learning and memory tasks while physiological responses are measured * Undergo additional MRI scans, clinical assessments, questionnaires, and cognitive testing * Complete remote follow-up assessments at 1, 6, and 12 months after the intervention
Official title: Engaging the Amygdala With Brain Stimulation for PTSD
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
60
Start Date
2026-10-12
Completion Date
2028-08
Last Updated
2026-08-25
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Active Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
The TMS intervention will involve two sets of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) delivered every weekday for 6 weeks (30 sessions). Each iTBS set consists of 40 trains and 1,200 pulses, for a total of 2,400 pulses per treatment session. The two iTBS sets will be separated by approximately 5 minutes and delivered to the individualized amygdala-connected cortical target using MRI-guided neuronavigation.
Sham Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
The sham TMS intervention will follow the same treatment schedule and session structure as active TMS. Sham stimulation will be delivered using the shielded side of the TMS coil together with synchronized scalp electrical stimulation to mimic the sensation of active TMS without delivering the intended magnetic stimulation to the targeted brain region.