A new approach to treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has received FDA clearance, offering a personalized alternative for people who have not found sufficient relief through existing treatments. Developed by California-based Wave Neuroscience in collaboration with researchers at the Texas A&M Health Institute of Biosciences and Technology, the technology uses brain activity measurements to guide targeted magnetic stimulation. Early clinical trial findings have been encouraging.
According to Wave Neuroscience, patients experienced a 52% reduction in PTSD symptoms, while 68% achieved remission. The full findings are still being prepared for public release, but researchers believe the technology could significantly expand treatment options for millions of people. The need for more effective PTSD care is substantial.
In the United States, approximately 17.5 veterans die by suicide each day, and about 7% of veterans receive a PTSD diagnosis annually. PTSD can develop after traumatic experiences such as military combat, serious accidents, natural disasters, or violence. An estimated 6% of Americans will experience PTSD during their lifetime, with higher rates among women and veterans.
Why Current PTSD Treatments Are Not Enough Since PTSD was formally recognized as a diagnosis in 1980, treatment has largely centered on psychotherapy and medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including sertraline and fluoxetine. Although these approaches can help, many patients continue to experience symptoms despite receiving treatment. A 2020 review of PTSD medications found that patients reported improvements ranging from 6.8 to 10.1 points on symptom assessments.
However, remission rates reached only 10.9% at most. Wave Neuroscience reported substantially stronger preliminary outcomes in its clinical trial. Erik Won, DO, the company's chief medical officer, described the results as a major advance over previously reported medication outcomes.
So, it’s really a quantum change, an inflection point in what we can offer to patients. From a clinical care perspective, that’s really meaningful.” These findings are promising, although the results come from different studies and should not be interpreted as a direct comparison of treatment effectiveness. How Personalized Brain Stimulation Works The newly cleared system uses Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy (MeRT), a technology that combines measurements of brain activity with targeted magnetic stimulation.
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