Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

UT Dallas > Texas Biomedical Device Center > Research > PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition in which individuals feel anxiety and panic when reminded of a traumatic event. According to the National Center for PTSD, approximately 7 to 8 percent of the U.S. population will have PTSD at some point in their lives.

The Texas Biomedical Device Center (TxBDC) was recently awarded a four-year grant that could result in funding of up to $6.4 million to study a potential new therapy for individuals who suffer from PTSD. The grant is part of DARPA’s ElectRx program, which aims to develop groundbreaking technologies that would use the body’s innate neurophysiology to restore and maintain health.

Researchers at TxBDC have developed a therapy to help PTSD patients reengage in life. This therapy uses stimulation of the vagus nerve during therapy to rewire neural circuits, dramatically improving recovery. We call this approach Targeted Plasticity Therapy (TPT). TPT uses vagus nerve stimulation during exposure therapy to reduce the fear response.

Technology to Treat PTSD

Patient participates in talk therapy with a licensed therapist.
A smartphone triggers the PCM (Power and Communication Module) when certain physiological responses are shown.
The PCM powers and communicates with the implanted vagus nerve stimulator.
The stimulator activates the vagus nerve to rewire the brain, enhancing recovery.

Publications

Translational Psychiatry: Effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Extinction of Conditioned Fear and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Rats

In the News

UT Dallas News Center: Vagus Nerve Stimulation Shows Progress Against PTSD Symptoms

UT Dallas News Center: Team Wins DARPA Grant to Explore Potential Treatment for PTSD

The Next Step

Our goal is to fund the next phase of Targeted Plasticity Therapy to treat PTSD and to dramatically reduce the cost to deliver this therapy to patients.

Support TxBDC