The Effects of Very Brief Exposure on PTSD in U.S. Combat Veterans

Inclusion Criteria: Patient Population * Males and females ages 18-50 * Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnosis of PTSD * Traumatic event is a combat-based experience (e.g., being injured, watching a buddy be killed) * Minimum score of 18 on the Combat Experience Scale (CES) * Minimum score of 3 or more on Primary Care (PC)-PTSD-5 * Participants with other cooccurring psychiatric disorders (e.g., anxiety, ADHD) will be included to ensure a representative sample. Healthy Population • Males and Females, ages 18-50 Exclusion Criteria: Patient Population * Treatment for PTSD, substance abuse, or mental health concerns in the past 6 months * 10 or more years since the combat trauma * Acute intoxication * Severe level of Substance Dependence (6 or more DSM-V symptoms) * Prior diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorders * Current or past psychotic disorders or active psychotic symptoms * Current Bipolar I Disorder * Dementia * Neurological or serious medical conditions (e.g., stroke, epilepsy/ seizure disorder, cancer, Lupus, HIV+); * Traumatic brain injury Healthy Population * Ferromagnetic implants (e.g., pacemaker), metal braces, retainers, tattoos or permanent make up w/ metallic content, transdermal medicinal patches that cannot be removed * Neurological or serious medical conditions (e.g., stroke, epilepsy/ seizure disorder, cancer, Lupus, HIV+); * Lifetime Diagnosis of PTSD, Tourette's Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder, Substance Dependence, Eating Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, a psychotic disorder, Acute Stress Disorder * Lifetime history of traumatic event defined as a life-threatening event involving physical attack, guns, fire or explosion (i.e the kinds of traumatic events combat veterans are likely to experience) * Traumatic Brain Injury * Birth at less than 37 weeks gestational age * Claustrophobia * Anxiety Disorder, Mood Disorder, Substance Abuse Disorder, Adjustment Disorder in past 2 years * Treatment for mental health concern in past 2 years * Pregnant Females