"In a first, this week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a brain stimulation device designed to treat depression at home. The approval of the first such device for home depression treatment expands therapeutic options for depression beyond drugs. Made by Flow Neuroscience, the device is worn as a headset that delivers electric current to a part of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is known to be implicated in mood disorders and depression."
"The technique, known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), has its skeptics. A 2023 trial published in the Lancet found tDCS to be no better than a placebo for treating depression, while other investigations, including trials funded by Flow Neuroscience, have shown some benefit. Key to the FDA approval was a 2024 phase 2 trial involving 174 people. Participants who wore the headset for 30-minute sessions over 10 weeks reported experiencing significant relief from their depression symptoms compared with controls who did not use the headset."
FDA approved the first home-use brain stimulation headset made by Flow Neuroscience that delivers transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The device is worn as a headset and administers electric current to a brain region implicated in mood disorders and depression. A 2024 phase 2 trial of 174 participants using 30-minute sessions over 10 weeks reported significant symptom relief compared with controls. A 2023 Lancet trial found no benefit versus placebo, while other studies, including industry-funded trials, showed some positive effects. FDA noted modest benefit and probable risks such as headaches and skin irritation.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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