The Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is caused „as a delayed or protracted reaction to an incriminating experience or a situation of shorter or longer duration with exceptional threat or catastrophe-like degree that would cause deep despair for almost anyone.“ Different mental and psychosomatic symptoms are summarized which can occur as long-term effects from one or more trauma(s). The affected e.g. are war veterans and survivors of tsunamis, plane crashes or terrorist attacks. In contrast to the acute mental stress reaction (duration of the symptoms up to one month) one speaks of a PTSD from one month on. Dealing with a period of longer than 6 months a PTSD chronification seems probable.

Current rTMS studies concerning PTSD:

• Noninvasive brain stimulation with high-frequency and low-intensity repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatmenf for posttraumatic stress disorder
• Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in posttraumatic stress disorder: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study
• Repetitve transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression