Retrospective Case Series of Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

R Douglas Shytle; David J Eve; Soel-Hee Kim; Allan Spiegel; Paul R Sanberg; Cesar V Borlongan

doi:10.1177/0963689719853232

Retrospective Case Series of Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Cell Transplant. 2019 Jul;28(7):885-892. doi: 10.1177/0963689719853232. Epub 2019 May 28.

Authors

R Douglas Shytle¹, David J Eve¹, Soel-Hee Kim¹, Allan Spiegel², Paul R Sanberg¹, Cesar V Borlongan¹

Affiliations

¹ 1 Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.
² 2 Neurological Solutions, Inc., Palm Harbor, USA.

Abstract

Returning veterans are frequently diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Considering a recent case-controlled study of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) reporting a reduction in suicidal ideation, we investigated retrospectively three veterans with chronic TBI/PTSD symptoms who were treated with multiple rounds of HBOT with neurophysiological testing performed before and after treatment. Improvements were detected on parameters within neurocognitive domains, including reductions in suicide-related symptoms. These findings independently confirm that HBOT may be effective in treating specific symptoms of TBI/PTSD that are not currently addressed with existing therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: hyperbaric oxygen therapy; post traumatic stress disorder; traumatic brain injury; war veterans.

Publication types

Case Reports
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Brain Injuries, Traumatic / therapy*
Female
Humans
Hyperbaric Oxygenation / methods*
Male
Retrospective Studies
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy*
Veterans