A new study shows that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), commonly used to treat physical conditions, may help veterans suffering from combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Conducted in Israel with 63 veterans from 2020 to 2023, the study’s promising results are raising interest in alternative PTSD treatments.
PTSD, a major issue affecting many American veterans, manifests through flashbacks, nightmares, and heightened anxiety, often as a result of combat experiences.
According to Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst, almost 20% of veterans from recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan experience symptoms of PTSD, which can sometimes take years to appear.
Traditional treatments for PTSD include psychotherapy and medications, but many veterans still struggle with debilitating symptoms.
Researchers in Israel’s Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research have now found that HBOT might alleviate these symptoms. The therapy involves inhaling pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which has already been used in treatments for wound healing and other physical conditions.
However, in recent years, researchers have noticed that PTSD patients often show signs of oxygen deprivation in the brain, sparking interest in HBOT’s potential as a mental health treatment.
The study, recently published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, reports that veterans who underwent HBOT experienced a “significant decrease” in PTSD symptoms.
Sixty-eight percent of veterans who received the therapy reported symptom improvements, including fewer nightmares and flashbacks.
Dr. Keren Doenyas-Barak, who led the study, explained that this improvement was paired with positive changes in brain activity, as observed through imaging techniques such as fMRI and SPECT scans.
Doenyas-Barak highlighted that while PTSD is often approached solely as a psychological disorder requiring therapy, brain imaging shows that it causes long-term changes in both brain activity and structure.
HBOT appears to target these affected brain areas, potentially offering a way to reduce core symptoms of PTSD and improve overall brain function.
In Israel, veterans now have access to this treatment with support from the Ministry of Defense, providing new hope for those struggling with symptoms that did not respond to traditional treatments.
Though some experts caution that it’s too soon to declare HBOT a universal treatment for PTSD, Dr. Siegel notes that HBOT’s results are promising enough to warrant further exploration.
“Our veterans deserve every chance for recovery,” he said, noting the critical need for continued research into new approaches for treating PTSD.
This study opens the door to innovative treatment options for veterans in the U.S. and around the world, offering a new avenue of hope for those battling PTSD.