Alpha-Stim technology improves PTSD symptoms in military

Recent findings indicated the Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program reduced PTSD symptoms among active-duty military personnel.

The Reset Program is an intensive outpatient behavioral health program that uses cranial electrical stimulation with Alpha-Stim technology from Electromedical Products International Inc, trauma-focused behavioral health techniques and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to improve mental health outcomes.

“This report shows the value of including complementary and alternative treatment approaches, including [cranial electrical stimulation (CES)], in a vulnerable and at-risk population of patients. The Reset Program used CES to address the neuropsychological precursor of PTSD symptom clusters as well as the resulting symptoms of PTSD-induced stresses, providing further demonstration of the broad applications for electromedicine,” study researcher Jerry Wesch, PhD, former director of the Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program, Fort Hood, Texas, said in a press release. “Soldiers with PTSD are complex. Most have chronic pain syndrome, at least 80% have headaches and about 40% have concussion histories. CES is significantly useful in all three, plus depression and anxiety. CES (Alpha-Stim) should be standard first-line care in this population.”

The program combined conventional allopathic and CAM techniques in a stepwise intervention conducted among 764 active service members. Phase 1 consisted of strategies to reduce hyperarousal through CAM, CES and active self-regulation strategies, including breathing exercises, muscle relaxation and mindfulness.

In phase 2, participants continued CES and incorporated neurofeedback training, acupuncture, massage, yoga, tai chi and Reiki practice to improve sleep disturbances, pain and headaches. Trauma memories were targeted via individual therapies and group procedures.

In phase 3, participants learned to identify triggers of traumatic stress and how to manage them.

Trauma-focused group and individual psychotherapy was conducted across all phases.

Wesch and colleagues found that the program statistically and clinically improved symptom scores for PTSD, depression (mean difference = –9), anxiety (mean difference = –6.3) pain (mean difference = –2.4) and resilience (mean difference = 6.8).

“The results of the Reset Program were both statistically and clinically significant, but we think the patient population provides an additional level of impact of these data,” Tracey B. Kirsch, president of Electromedical Products International, Inc, said in the release. “The care of our veterans should constitute a high priority for our health care system, and we are most proud of EPI’s ability to contribute to this important research.”