Characterization and Modulation of Traumatic Memories in PTSD Patients Using TMS

Study goals:

• Characterization of the cortical brain regions that are suitable for effective modulation with TMS, which has the highest connectivity to the sub-cortical regions that are in the strongest connectivity with areas that directly contribute to the formation and preservation of intrusive traumatic memories.
• Examine the modulation of those cortical brain regions with TMS, while deliberately re-activating an intrusive traumatic memory, on the clinical symptoms of PTSD patients.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged 20-65 of both sexes, who meet the diagnosis of PTSD according to DSM-5 as tested by a structured clinical interview (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale - CAPS-5). The clinical interview will be performed by clinical psychologists.
• CAPS-5 (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale) score higher than 33.
• Subjects who experience intrusive symptoms (flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories) at least 4 times a week.
• Only subjects with a level of Hebrew that allows a full understanding of the consent form to participate in the experiment will be included in the experiment.
• In addition, the accepted criteria for inclusion for an MRI examination for medical purposes will be applied, according to the established procedures at the MRI Institute at the Sourasky Tel Aviv Medical Center and at the Imaging Center at Tel Aviv University.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects who meet the diagnosis of Complex PTSD or personality disorder.
• Subjects who suffer or have suffered in the past from a psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or a developmental neuropsychological disorder (autism, mental retardation).
• Use of psychiatric medications (except for the medications listed in section 4.a) will not be an expense criterion if the medication dosage is stable in the last three months and does not change during the study.

In addition, exclusion criteria 4-13 will apply according to the exclusion rules in TMS laboratories in England and the USA:

• Use of the following drugs:

a. The list of drugs that constitute a criterion for exclusion in the study: imipramine, amitriptyline, doxepine, nortriptyline, maprotiline, chlorpromazine, clozapine, foscarnet, ganciclovir, ritonavir, amphetamines, cocaine, (MDMA, ecstasy), phencyclidine (PCP, angel's dust), ketamine, gamma- hydroxybutyrate (GHB), alcohol, theophylline

• Subjects suffering from epilepsy or taking anti-epileptic drugs.
• Victims with traumatic head injuries or who have undergone head surgery.
• Having a metallic body (except fillings/amalgam bites/orthodontic fixations approved for MRI), electrodes or a pacemaker in their body.
• Subjects suffering from migraines
• Pregnant women
• Subjects with hearing problems
• Subjects who use drugs
• Subjects who drank alcohol 24 hours before the experiment
• Subjects who have previously experienced repeated episodes of fainting with loss of consciousness and/or an event of fainting with loss of consciousness in the past year. (reaction and vegalit)
• In addition, the accepted exclusion criteria for an MRI examination for medical purposes will apply, according to the established procedures at the MRI Institute at the Sourasky Tel Aviv Medical Center and at the Imaging Center at Tel Aviv University.