Innovating transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder: Zapping away the bad memory
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition characterized by dysregulated fear memory, emotional disturbances, and impaired cognition, driven by dysfunctions across multiple neural circuits and neuroinflammatory processes. While current treatments demonstrate limited efficacy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive intervention. This review synthesizes preclinical and clinical evidence, highlighting rTMS mechanisms-including enhanced neuroplasticity, normalizing network connectivity, and reducing neuroinflammation. We then propose five innovative strategies, including accelerated protocols, precision targeting using neuroimaging, neuroinformatic approaches, closed-loop systems, and biomarker-guided treatment. By bridging circuit-level insights with clinical innovation, rTMS offers a transformative approach to PTSD treatment, though standardization and personalized paradigms require further development and validation. Future research should integrate multimodal biomarkers with hybrid therapies to optimize outcomes.
Source: Fundamental Research
Institutions: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nantong University, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Nanchang University, ShanghaiTech University, Air Force Medical University, Tongji University, Chinese Institute for Brain Research
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414216982