Veterans Seek Advanced Therapies for PTSD as US Options Lag

Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT) is a high‑dose, MRI‑guided transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol that condenses treatment into five consecutive days. Clinics such as AtBrainHealth Solutions in Costa Mesa, California report that veterans with treatment‑resistant PTSD and depression have experienced mood improvement, reduced hypervigilance, fewer intrusive thoughts and better sleep after the intensive course.

Because no new PTSD medication has been approved in the United States for more than 25 years, many veterans are traveling abroad—particularly to clinics in Mexico—to receive psychedelic‑assisted therapies such as MDMA or psilocybin. These treatments have shown rapid symptom reductions in clinical trials, with one study reporting 67 % of participants no longer meeting PTSD criteria after MDMA‑assisted therapy. Advocates warn that seeking care outside the regulated U.S. medical system poses risks, including unverified provider credentials and lack of safety monitoring. The situation is prompting calls for a regulated pathway to make promising psychedelic medicines available domestically.