ArticleNeuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society2023
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
Article in Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 19 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of combat-related PTSD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- Augmenting evidence-based PTSD psychotherapy with neuroscientifically informed interventions: A mind-body-brain approach.Journal of military, veteran and family health · 2026Article
- A Customized Neural Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Target for Functional Disability Among Veterans With Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2025Article
- Article
- Review
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.Current topics in behavioral neurosciences · 2025Review
- Frontal Pole Neuromodulation for Impulsivity and Suicidality in Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Common Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2024Article
- A Comprehensive Overview of the Current Status and Advancements in Various Treatment Strategies against Epilepsy.ACS pharmacology & translational science · 2024Review
- Clinical Insights Into Default Mode Network Abnormalities in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Unraveling Axonal Injury Through Functional, Structural, and Molecular Analyses.CNS neuroscience & therapeutics · 2024Article
- Interleaved TMS/fMRI shows that threat decreases dlPFC-mediated top-down regulation of emotion processing.NPP - digital psychiatry and neuroscience · 2024Article
- The Rehabilitation Potential of Neurostimulation for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Animal and Human Studies.Brain sciences · 2023Review
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesMild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a signature injury of military conflicts and is prevalent in veterans with major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although therapeutic transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can reduce symptoms of depression and PTSD, whether traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects TMS responsiveness is not yet known. We hypothesized mTBI would be associated with higher pretreatment symptom burden and poorer TMS response. MATERIALS AND
methodsWe investigated a registry of veterans (N = 770) who received TMS for depression across the US Veterans Affairs system. Of these, 665 (86.4%) had data on TBI and lifetime number of head injuries while 658 had complete data related to depression outcomes. Depression symptoms were assessed using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire and PTSD symptoms using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. Linear mixed effects models and t-tests evaluated whether head injuries predicted symptom severity before treatment, and how TBI status affected clinical TMS outcomes.
resultsOf the 658 veterans included, 337 (50.7%) reported previous mTBI, with a mean of three head injuries (range 1-20). TBI status did not predict depressive symptom severity or TMS-associated changes in depression (all p's > 0.1). TBI status was associated with a modest attenuation of TMS-associated improvement in PTSD (in patients with PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 scores > 33). There was no correlation between the number of head injuries and TMS response (p > 0.1).
conclusionsContrary to our hypothesis, presence of mTBI did not meaningfully change TMS outcomes. Veterans with mTBI had greater PTSD symptoms, yet neither TBI status nor cumulative head injuries reduced TMS effectiveness. Limitations include those inherent to retrospective registry studies and self-reporting. Although these findings are contrary to our hypotheses, they support the safety and effectiveness of TMS for MDD and PTSD in patients who have comorbid mTBI.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.