title: Military service member and veteran self reports of efficacy of cranial electrotherapy stimulation for anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, insomnia, and depression.
abstract: Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) is being prescribed for service members and veterans for the treatment of anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia and depression. The purpose of this study was to examine service members' and veterans' perceptions of the effectiveness and safety of CES treatment. Service members and veterans (N=1,514) who had obtained a CES device through the Department of Defense or Veterans Affairs Medical Center from 2006-2011 were invited to participate in the web based survey via email. One hundred fifty-two participants returned questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Participants reported clinical improvement of 25% or more from using CES for anxiety (66.7%), PTSD (62.5%), insomnia (65.3%) and depression (53.9%). The majority of these participants reported clinical improvement of 50% or more. Respondents also perceived CES to be safe (99.0%). Those individuals who were not taking any prescription medication rated CES more effective than the combined CES and prescription medication group. CES provides service members and veterans with a safe, noninvasive, nondrug, easy to use treatment for anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, and depression that can be used in the clinical setting or self-directed at home.
authors.affiliation: Americal Institute of Stress, Fort Worth, Texas.
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: Larry R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Marksberry
authors.forename: Katherine T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Platoni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057566:Self Report; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CES; PTSD; anxiety; cranial electrotherapy stimulation; depression; insomnia; military; service members; veterans