Israeli researchers are conducting clinical trials to investigate the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The therapy, which involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, is traditionally used for decompression sickness, wound healing, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
A 2021 study published in the journal PLOS ONE by researchers from Tel Aviv University and Shamir Medical Center found that HBOT induced neuroplasticity and improved symptoms in military veterans suffering from treatment-resistant PTSD. The study reported significant improvements in all PTSD symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life. The treatment protocol involved 60 daily sessions.
Further research is ongoing. A more recent 2024 study, also from Israeli institutions, published findings in Frontiers in Psychology, supporting the potential of HBOT to modulate brain activity and alleviate PTSD symptoms. Experts caution that while results are promising, larger-scale and longer-term studies are needed to establish HBOT as a standard, evidence-based treatment for PTSD.
The research has garnered international attention due to the high prevalence of PTSD among combat veterans and other trauma survivors. The therapy's proposed mechanism involves promoting healing and regeneration in brain regions affected by trauma.
