Israeli scientists hail pioneering treatment for the most severe PTSD cases

Israeli researchers say they have found a way to relieve the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder with a form of treatment using oxygen.

A study involving 35 Israeli military veterans found “significant improvement” in all classes of symptoms, raising hopes that some of the most difficult cases can be treated.

Severe post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is caused by non-healing wounds on the brain that are resistant to conventional treatments such as medication or therapy.

The new method, trialled by Tel Aviv University and the Shamir Medical Centre, uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy — a process that involves placing a patient in an oxygen-rich chamber where the atmospheric pressure is greater than sea level.

Researchers said evidence gathered in recent years had found this method improved the supply of oxygen to the brain, helping to generate new blood vessels and neurons.

Shai Efrati, who led the research team, said treatment-resistant PTSD was caused by a “biological wound in brain tissues”.

He said with the new treatment “we can activate mechanisms that repair the wounded brain tissue.

“The treatment induces reactivation and proliferation of stem cells, as well as generation of new blood vessels and increased brain activity, ultimately restoring the functionality of the wounded tissues.

“Our study paves the way to a better understanding of the connection between mind and body.”

According to World Health Organisation figures, almost 4% of the global population and 30% of all combat soldiers, develop PTSD.

Prof Efrati said: “Our results indicate that exposure to severe emotional trauma can cause organic damage to the brain.

“We also demonstrate for the first time that direct biological treatment of brain tissues can serve as a tool for helping PTSD patients.

“Moreover, our findings may be most significant for diagnosis.

“To date, no effective diagnostic method has been developed and diagnosis of PTSD is still based on personal reports which are necessarily subjective – leading to many clashes between the suffering veterans and the authorities responsible for treating them.”