Combining Nerve Blocks With Therapy Speeds Recovery In Military Personnel, Veterans

Researchers found that adding a stellate ganglion block (SGB) to cognitive processing therapy (CPT) helps military members and veterans feel better and recover from PTSD symptoms more quickly.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine conducted a randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of combining stellate ganglion block (SGB) with cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military personnel and veterans. The study found that adding SGB to CPT, either before or after the therapy, significantly improved PTSD symptom reduction compared to CPT alone.

Why it matters

PTSD is a common mental health issue among military personnel and veterans, affecting up to 23% of this population. PTSD can lead to a range of psychological challenges and adverse effects that hinder deployment readiness and diminish quality of life. This innovative approach combining SGB and CPT could help military personnel return to work faster and may be especially useful in areas where specialized PTSD care is hard to find.

The details

The study involved 86 military personnel and veterans with PTSD, who were given SGB either before or after daily CPT. Researchers found that over an average period of just two weeks, participants' PTSD symptom scores fell from 50 to 20 on the PCL-5 scale—more than double the standard improvement—and this positive effect lasted for at least one year after treatment. The combination of SGB before daily CPT may be of particular interest to the Department of Defense for treating military personnel with PTSD, as it could maximize treatment response in a brief period and return personnel to mission readiness sooner.

  • The study findings are published in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics in 2026.

The players

Jaryd Hiser, PhD

Psychologist at Ohio State's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and senior study author.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine

The institution where the research was conducted.

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What they’re saying

“Our research shows SGB enhances CPT effectiveness when administered beforehand. Military personnel and veterans not helped by initial daily CPT experienced significant PTSD symptom reduction when SGB is given after CPT.”

— Jaryd Hiser, PhD, Psychologist (Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics)

“The combination of SGB before daily CPT may be of particular interest to the Department of Defense for treating military personnel with PTSD. Such an approach could maximize treatment response in a brief period of time and return military personnel to mission readiness sooner.”

— Jaryd Hiser, PhD, Psychologist (Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics)

What’s next

The researchers noted that while the study focused on military personnel and veterans, the therapy could also benefit civilians with difficult trauma cases. Further research is needed to explore the potential applications of this combined SGB and CPT approach for a wider range of PTSD patients.

The takeaway

This innovative approach combining a stellate ganglion block with cognitive processing therapy shows promise for quickly and effectively reducing PTSD symptoms in military personnel and veterans, potentially helping them return to work and mission readiness sooner. The results suggest this therapy could also benefit civilians dealing with difficult trauma cases.