Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2014, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (19): 1712-1730.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.143408

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Transcranial magnetic stimulation: potential treatment for co-occurring alcohol, traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorders

Amy A. Herrold 1, 2, 3, Sandra L. Kletzel 2, Brett C. Harton 4, R. Andrew Chambers 5, Neil Jordan 2, 3, Theresa Louise-Bender Pape 1, 2, 6   

  1. 1 Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Research Service PO Box 5000 (M/C 151H), Hines, IL, USA
    2 The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Center for Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, PO Box 5000
    (M/C 151H), Hines, IL, USA
    3 Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 446 East Ontario, #7-200, Chicago, IL, USA
    4 Chicago Association for Research and Education in Science, Hines, IL, USA
    5 Department of Psychiatry, Laboratory for Translational Neuroscience of Dual Diagnosis & Development, Neuroscience Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 West 15th Street, Indianapolis, IN, USA
    6 Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Office of Medical Educ. (1574), 345 E. Superior St., Chicago, IL, USA
  • Received:2014-10-10 Online:2014-10-15 Published:2014-10-15
  • Contact: Amy A. Herrold, Ph.D., Research Service (151H), Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, 5000 South Fifth Ave, Hines, IL 60141, USA, amy.herrold@va.gov; amy.herrold@northwestern.edu.
  • Supported by:

    This material is the result of work supported with resources by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Health Services Research and Development Service and the Office of Academic Affiliations (TPP 42-013) at Edward Hines VA Hospital. This manuscript was supported by the following: VA OAA Polytrauma Fellowship to AAH, NIDRR Merit Switzer Research Fellowship Award H133F130011to AAH and the VA RR & D CDA-II RX000949-01A2 to AAH. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the VA or the United States government.

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Abstract:

Alcohol use disorder (AUD), mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly co-occur (AUD + mTBI + PTSD). These conditions have overlapping symptoms which are, in part, reflective of overlapping neuropathology. These conditions become problematic because their co-occurrence can exacerbate symptoms. Therefore, treatments must be developed that are inclusive to all three conditions. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is non-invasive and may be an ideal treatment for co-occurring AUD + mTBI + PTSD. There is accumulating evidence on rTMS as a treatment for people with AUD, mTBI, and PTSD each alone. However, there are no published studies to date on rTMS as a treatment for co-occurring AUD + mTBI + PTSD. This review article advances the knowledge base for rTMS as a treatment for AUD + mTBI + PTSD. This review provides background information about these co-occurring conditions as well as rTMS. The existing literature on rTMS as a treatment for people with AUD, TBI, and PTSD each alone is reviewed. Finally, neurobiological findings in support of a theoretical model are discussed to inform TMS as a treatment for co-occurring AUD + mTBI + PTSD. The peer-reviewed literature was identified by targeted literature searches using PubMed and supplemented by cross-referencing the bibliographies of relevant review articles. The existing evidence on rTMS as a treatment for these conditions in isolation, coupled with the overlapping neuropathology and symptomology of these conditions, suggests that rTMS may be well suited for the treatment of these conditions together.

Key words: transcranial magnetic stimulation, traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, treatment, neuroimaging, substance use disorders, addiction, co-morbidity, mental health disorders, behavioral health, neuroimaging, non-invasive brain stimulation