Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation in Burned Patients

Effect of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation on PTSD in Burned Outpatients

To find out if Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation is a useful treatment for people who have been burned and have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. CES may be helpful in giving relief to some or all of those symptoms.

The purpose of this research study is to systematically determine if CES therapy is effective in managing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the burn patient. Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) is the delivery of low-level electrical stimulation across the head, delivered with ear lobe electrode clips or self-adhesive electrode pads. CES in the current form has been used for the past 30 years to successfully treat anxiety, depression, insomnia and pain in a variety of patient populations. This FDA approved medical device is non-invasive and has no reported significant side effects. It will be used on patients undergoing outpatient rehabilitation in our burn center.

Inclusion Criteria:

• burned patients requiring outpatient physical or occupational therapy in the USAISR Burn Rehabilitation Gym or Center for the Intrepid
• Able to read and speak English
• Between ages of 18-65 years
• Screen positive (score greater than 44) on the PCL-M/C instruments

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnant patients
• patients with implantable pacemakers or electronic stimulators
• patients scoring below 44 on the PCL-M/C instrument
• patients who previously used CES therapy