What Researchers Did
Researchers tested whether 40 hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions could improve symptoms and thinking problems in people with lasting effects from mild traumatic brain injury (persistent postconcussion syndrome), using a randomized controlled trial with a crossover design.
What They Found
This randomized controlled crossover trial of 63 civilian and military participants with persistent postconcussion syndrome found that 40 hyperbaric oxygen sessions at 150 kPa produced significant improvements compared to a no-treatment control group across multiple measures, including postconcussion symptoms, memory, cognitive test performance, depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life. Fifty of the 63 randomized participants completed the protocol with primary outcome testing. After the control group crossed over to the same 40-session protocol, they showed near-identical significant improvements to the original treatment group. Both groups showed further improvement during the 2-month follow-up period after finishing the 40th session.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The control group received no treatment rather than a sham procedure, so participants and outcome assessors were not blinded, which limits how much of the reported improvement can be attributed specifically to hyperbaric oxygen rather than expectation or natural recovery.