What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review and dosage analysis of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, searching PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases for adult clinical studies.
What They Found
Eight studies, totaling 393 subjects, were included, comprising seven randomized trials and one imaging case-controlled study. Patients treated with 40-60 HBOT sessions showed statistically significant symptomatic improvements and clinically significant changes in PTSD symptoms.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This systematic review suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be a beneficial treatment option for Canadian patients experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Patients might see improvements after 40-60 sessions, potentially offering a new avenue for managing their condition.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this review is that all included studies had small sample sizes, with fewer than 75 subjects per study.