News

Health Rounds: New procedure dramatically improves combat-related PTSD

April 9, 2026

An advanced version of a procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain ‌nerve cells appears to be extremely effective for combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a study of active military ‌and veterans.

MRI-guided brain stimulation improves PTSD recovery in veterans

April 7, 2026

MRI-guided navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) improves treatment outcomes for military personnel who suffer from combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), researchers have reported.

Study findings suggest that “navigated TMS can be an efficacious addition to behavioral therapy for combat-related PTSD,” according to a team led by Peter Fox, MD, of the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. The results were published April 7 in JAMA Network Open.

UT Health San Antonio researchers report breakthrough findings significantly reducing symptoms for combat PTSD victims

April 7, 2026

Adding navigated TMS to psychotherapy can ‘greatly improve’ quality of life An advanced version of a procedure using magnetic fields to stimulate brain nerve cells in treating depression was significantly effective for 85% of active military and veterans suffering from combat post-traumatic stress disorder enrolled in a recent study, when added to psychotherapy. The breakthrough study led by UT Health San Antonio researchers used their patented MRI-guided, robotic-controlled form of transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, which they termed “navigated TMS.” They added navigated TMS to the treatment plan for one of two groups of a total 119 active-duty military and veteran participants with combat PTSD – 92% with severe or extremely severe conditions – during a 30-day residential program at Laurel Ridge Treatment Center in San Antonio. Those who received the navigated TMS treatment in addition to the highest level of psychotherapy for PTSD had more clinically significant symptom reduc …

Science & Medicine: Sleep disorders in the military are complex, common, and treatable

January 4, 2026

UT Health San Antonio Director of Sleep Medicine and STRONG STAR investigator Vincent Mysliwiec, MD, FAASM, speaks with Texas Public Radio’s Bonnie Petrie in a recent episode of the “Petrie Dish” to discuss sleep disorders in the military. He says that with the rigorous demands of military life, service members often sleep fewer than six hours a night. Beyond that, disordered sleep has skyrocketed in the military since 2005, with a 45-fold increase in insomnia and 30-fold increase in obstructive sleep apnea. The most common sleep disorder now in both military men and women is the comorbidity of these two conditions, called COMISA. For military readiness and good quality of life, Dr. Mysliwiec says it’s important for those with sleep problems to get a comprehensive evaluation, proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent the cascade of potential physical and psychological health problems that can increase with disordered sleep.

San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference Oct. 20-21 offers latest science in treating psychological wounds of war

October 16, 2025

Military City USA will welcome hundreds of researchers, clinicians, military leaders and policymakers Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 20-21, for the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. They’ll gather at the Westin Riverwalk to discuss the latest advances in caring for those with the psychological wounds of war and how to lead more affected service members and veterans to recovery. Hosted by the STRONG STAR Consortium and UT Health San Antonio, the health enterprise of The University of Texas at San Antonio, the annual gathering started 10 years ago as a way to share the state of the science on post-traumatic stress disorder and co-occurring conditions affecting our war fighters. Today it is recognized as the premier scientific gathering on the topic of military psychological health. Each year, the conference attracts an international audience of professionals from within the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as from academic instituti …

Preview program, register now for 2025 San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference

August 5, 2025

Now is the time to secure your seats for the 10th Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, to be held Oct. 20-21, at The Westin Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio, Texas. The conference has opened registration and shared a preview of its compelling program on its website. While this year’s venue offers expanded seating capacity, organizers emphasize the importance of early registration for this popular, one-of-a-kind event.

The San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference is sponsored by the STRONG STAR Consortium and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio). Recognized as the premier scientific gathering on the topic of military psychological health, the annual event shares the state of the science on the prevention and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and commonly co-occurring conditions that affect military service members and veterans.

CRDAMC, STRONG STAR Consortium lead the fight against combat-related PTSD

June 10, 2025

FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — For soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and the STRONG STAR program provides access to the latest, most innovative care available for the treatment of this common warfighting mental health condition.

STRONG STAR consortium leads fight against combat-related PTSD

June 5, 2025

During PTSD Awareness Month, this article in the Fort Hood Sentinel highlights the longstanding collaboration between the STRONG STAR Consortium and the C.R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC) at Fort Hood to advance the care and treatment of service members with PTSD and other psychological health issues. “The STRONG STAR team’s aim is to improve the effectiveness, as well as applicability, of existing treatment methods for our warfighters, to ensure that they not only get better care now, but also reap benefits in the future as a direct result of these studies,” noted Col. Amit Gupta, CRDAMC and Fort Hood director of psychological health, about the integration of cutting-edge science into daily clinical practice at Fort Hood. “We are fortunate to have this collaboration with a top-notch team that clearly cares about taking care of our Soldiers and families.” Fort Hood is currently hosting several ongoing or newly funded clinical treatment trials through STRONG STAR, many of which o …

Science & Medicine: Tinnitus and PTSD

June 1, 2025

Posttraumatic stress disorder and tinnitus – that constant ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in the ears – seem so different, but they often occur together and cause similar psychological distress.  For this episode of “Science & Medicine,” Texas Public Radio’s Bonnie Petrie speaks with John Moring, PhD, about his research efforts with STRONG STAR to better understand the relationship between these two conditions and how best to help patients alleviate symptoms and reduce related distress. Dr. Moring, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UT Health San Antonio, also shares how his personal experience with tinnitus inspires his work.

Why it’s never too late to seek help for combating PTSD

April 30, 2025

In preparation for its one-hour news special on the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon that aired April 16, KSAT-12 News attended STRONG STAR and UT Health San Antonio’s 9th Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference to learn more about the psychological health issues impacting veterans. In this news story that aired separately on April 30, the anniversary date, Craig Bryan, PsyD, of The Ohio State University speaks about the hope for healing from psychological wounds of war and why it’s never too late to seek help.