Brain stimulation enhances dispositional mindfulness in PTSD: an exploratory sham-controlled rTMS trial.
Kaveh Rayani, Andrea Grabovac, Peter Chan, Stefanie Montgomery, Mohammad-Reza Ghovanloo, Matthew D. Sacchet
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1494567 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Double-blind Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 31 |
| Population | Adults diagnosed with PTSD |
| Duration | Two-week intervention, three-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Keywords | Ffmq Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex Rtms |
| Citations | 2 |
| Registration | NCT01806168 |
| Key findings | rTMS of the right DLPFC led to a significant improvement in total FFMQ score and nonreactivity at three-month follow-up, but not immediately post-treatment after correction for multiple comparisons. |
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, negative mood, and avoidant behaviors. Therapies involving mindfulness have been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms and modulate brain function. Pharmacological and brain stimulation interventions are also effective for treating PTSD. Non-invasive repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been shown to regulate mood and improve PTSD symptoms. This is a retrospective chart analysis of data collected pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at three-month follow-up in a single-site, double-blind, sham-controlled trial of right DLPFC rTMS. 31 participants diagnosed with PTSD were recruited for this pilot study. Over two weeks, 19 participants received ten sessions of either 1 Hz or 10 Hz stimulation, and nine received sham treatment. Participants in the rTMS group had a significant reduction in total Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) scores from baseline to post-treatment, this difference was no longer observed when a false discovery rate (FDR) correction was applied. However, a significant improvement was observed in the rTMS group from baseline to the three-month follow-up in total FFMQ score and nonreactivity. This change in mindfulness scores suggests a potential delay in onset of benefits. Based on our preliminary data, rTMS may improve levels of dispositional mindfulness and its specific subcomponents. Future studies could investigate brain stimulation to assess its utility for improving mindfulness and related health outcomes to reduce suffering related to PTSD. Moreover, application of this neurostimulation modality for improving mental illness and well-being more generally merits further exploration. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study, identifier NCT01806168.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Active inference, computational phenomenology, and advanced meditation: Toward the formalization of the experience of meditation. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews March 1, 2026
- Brain criticality and advanced meditation “cessation” events: An intensively sampled electroencephalography case study IBRO Neuroscience Reports August 1, 2026
Cites 10
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Clarifying the construct of mindfulness in the context of emotion regulation and the process of change in therapy. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- The Mindful Brain and Emotion Regulation in Mood Disorders The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry February 1, 2012
and 5 more in the library