10/03/2025
🔬A new case study published in the Open Access Journal of Surgery highlights how Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) may help veterans recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD caused by repeated blast exposures.
🔎The study was led by led by Dr. Sohail R. Daulat and conducted by a team of physicians and researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, and the Oxygen Rescue Care Centers of America.
📌 Case Summary: A 22-year-old Iraq War veteran survived over 40 IED blasts between 2006–2007. Afterwards, he struggled with daily headaches, seizures, memory problems, severe PTSD, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Standard medications and therapies provided little relief.
💡 Treatment: The patient underwent 40 HBOT sessions (1.75–2 ATA, 90 minutes each) alongside physical therapy.
📈 Results:
• Significant improvements in depression, PTSD symptoms, anxiety, memory, and language skills
• Improved brain function shown on SPECT scans (before vs. after HBOT)
• Reduced headaches, better sleep, and improved daily functioning
• Within 2 months, he was able to stop all prescription medications and return to college - earning a 3.6 GPA his first semester
💠Unlike traditional treatments that only manage symptoms, HBOT targets the underlying brain injury - reactivating “idling neurons” and potentially repairing damaged brain tissue. HBOT could offer new hope for veterans and others living with TBI/PTSD.