A clinical study has shown that electrical stimulation of the vestibular system can help alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, with significant improvements in insomnia, general anxiety, and quality of life.
The study, published in the journal Nature Mental Health, included approximately 383 individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, ranging in age from 22 to 74 years. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one group used the Modius Spero active headset, while the other used a similar headset that provided sham stimulation.
Participants were asked to use the headset for 30 minutes daily, about an hour before bedtime, for 12 weeks. The headset works by means of adhesive electrodes placed behind the ears, and delivers a low-intensity electrical current to stimulate the vestibular system (a part of the inner ear, which is mainly responsible for balance and the sense of head movement and body direction).
The researchers measured the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms using the PCL-5 scale at the beginning of the study and then after 4, 8 and 12 weeks, along with assessing insomnia, general anxiety and quality of life, and monitoring side effects.
The results showed an improvement in PTSD symptoms in both groups, but the improvement was greater in the group that received the actual stimulation. PCL-5 scores decreased by 23.5 points in the group using the active device, compared to 12.1 points in the group using the sham device, a difference of 11.4 points.
The group that received the actual stimulation also showed greater improvement in insomnia, general anxiety, and quality of life. Approximately 9% of participants reported experiencing mild dizziness, with no difference in the rate of these symptoms between the two study groups.
Peter Kolvonen, a researcher at the University of California, San Diego and the study's lead author, said the intervention is not intended to replace trauma-focused therapies such as prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive therapy, but may be used as an adjunctive or additional option for people who cannot access or are unwilling to use such therapies.
The researchers stressed that the results are encouraging, but need to be replicated in other studies, especially to determine how long the improvement continues after stopping the use of the device, and to assess its effectiveness in other groups, including military personnel and veterans.
The results suggest that electrical stimulation of the vestibular system could become a non-invasive option that can be used at home as part of a treatment regimen for post-traumatic stress disorder, although more evidence is still needed to determine its long-term therapeutic role.
what is your opinion on this news ?do let us know in the comments on tha comment box
if you liked this news article please share on friends & family & don't forget to follow on website & social media
