Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex condition that occurs in people who experience a shocking or dangerous event, such as a threat of death, violence, or a painful or life-threatening injury.
Though most people experience a traumatic event in their lives, it’s typical for individuals to recover. When a person experiences trouble sleeping, struggles with traumatic memories, and experiences trauma-related anxiety for longer than a month after the traumatic event, the person may be suffering from PTSD.1
According to the National Center for PTSD, about 6 out of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Some people are more likely to develop PTSD. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, and Veterans are more likely to develop PTSD than civilians.1
PTSD can result in a constellation of debilitating symptoms such as painful flashbacks, depression, anxiety, insomnia, mood changes, and in extreme cases, PTSD can result suicidal ideation. Because PTSD symptoms are complex and affect each person differently, it is a challenging condition to treat.
Diagnosis and Treatment Through Biomarkers
Currently, PTSD is diagnosed through clinical observation and questionnaires according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). To improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis, scientists are identifying biomarkers, including neuroimaging, cardiac activity and glucocorticoids, that may also predict which treatment could be most effective for an individual. In an assessment of 70 studies that explored biomarker sensitivity to treatment, cardiac activation markers and heart rate reactivity to trauma cues had the most consistent findings. Identifying and measuring these biomarkers may be an effective approach for determining the effects of treatments across different populations and modalities.2
Promising Therapies
The first-line treatment for PTSD is Trauma-Focused Therapy, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Eye Movement, Desensitization, Restructuring (EMDR), and others that help people process traumatic memories and develop coping mechanisms. Some pharmacological treatments, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), are also effective in addressing PTSD symptoms.3
A study published in 2025 that explored vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) combined with prolonged exposure therapy for treatment-resistant PTSD showed promising results. All participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD after participating, warranting a randomized controlled clinical trial.4
Researchers are also exploring whether psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy may be an effective treatment for PTSD. However, more research must be conducted, including large scale clinical trials, to determine the efficacy of these potential treatments.5
PTSD is a complex condition that is difficult to diagnose and treat. Because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, researchers are exploring a range of possibilities. Promising new treatments and combinations of treatments may help people living with the effects of PTSD find relief.
Sources:
- https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp
- Cao-Noya, J. A., Canovas, C., & Benuto, L. T. (2025). The use of biomarkers as measures of PTSD treatment efficacy and predictors of treatment outcomes: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 118, 102579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2025.102579
- Schrader, C., & Ross, A. (2021). A Review of PTSD and Current Treatment Strategies. Missouri Medicine, 118(6), 546. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8672952/
- https://www.brainstimjrnl.com/article/S1935-861X(25)00060-9/fulltext
- https://post.parliament.uk/psychedelic-drugs-to-treat-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
