What Researchers Did
Researchers reanalyzed data from a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of 56 male veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD who received either real HBOT or a sham treatment, to test whether achieving a certain level of improvement during treatment predicts lasting recovery three months later.
What They Found
Veterans who improved by 35% or more on PTSD symptom scores by the end of treatment continued to improve at the 3-month follow-up (p = 2×10⁻⁶), while those below this threshold did not maintain gains. Intrusive symptoms (Cluster B) showed the strongest correlation with follow-up outcomes (r = 0.74–0.80), and avoidance symptoms (Cluster C) were the best early predictor of long-term improvement.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This was a post-hoc analysis of an RCT involving only male veterans, so the 35% threshold has not yet been validated in women, civilians, or other trauma populations.