At-Home Electrical Vestibular Stimulation Headset Shows Promise in Reducing PTSD Symptoms
A recent 12-week sham-controlled trial involving 383 adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) demonstrated that an at-home electrical vestibular stimulation (VSS) headset significantly reduced PTSD symptom scores. The study, a collaboration between the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and Neurovalens, found that participants using the active headset experienced a 23.5-point decrease in PTSD symptom scores, compared to a 12.1-point decrease in the sham group. This represents an 11.4-point larger reduction with the active device. The intervention also led to improvements in insomnia and generalized anxiety, with minimal reported adverse effects, primarily mild dizziness in about 9% of users. The Modius Spero headset, developed by Neurovalens, was used to deliver the VSS, and the trial was designed in close consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure rigorous evaluation as a medical device. The FDA has since authorized this neuromodulation device specifically for t...
