Sympathetic Overactivity in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent anxiety disorder that is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and hypertension. One potential mechanism is overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), both at rest and particularly during stress. This study will evaluate whether 8 weeks of daily DGB therapy or transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) therapy improves SNS activity at rest and during stress.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * prehypertensive and normotensive veterans with PTSD, and prehypertensive and normotensive veterans without PTSD (controls) Exclusion Criteria: * heart or vascular disease * illicit drug use within the last 6 months * excessive alcohol use (\>2 drinks per day) * pregnancy * autonomic dysfunction * medications known to affect SNS (clonidine) * treatment with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors within the last 14 days * any serious systemic disease