Title:  Novel Technologies for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Committee:

Dr. Omer Inan, ECE, Chair , Advisor

Dr. Robert Butera, ECE

Dr. Douglas Bremner, Emory

Dr. Hua Wang, ECE

Dr. Javier Hernandez, Microsoft Research

Abstract: The objective of this research is identifying and developing novel technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). First, we will focus on how noninvasive sensing modalities could be instrumented and used in conjunction with signal processing and machine learning methods to quantify an individual’s autonomic state. Second, a mechanistic, sham-controlled, randomized, double blind study on the use of noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) for dampening stress response will be investigated in multiple dimensions: downstream physiological effects, biochemical biomarkers, and brain imaging, with a particular focus on real-time physiological biomarkers of nVNS and their potential for closing the loop for machine learning guided personalized neuromodulation. Finally, an objective diagnosis methodology for PTSD will be presented. These methodologies lay the groundwork for future efforts to objectively diagnose and treat PTSD remotely, outside of clinical settings.