At-home brain stimulation headset could be used to treat depression, study finds
A headset that stimulates the brain with electricity is able to relieve symptoms of major depression in 57.5% of patients, a new trial has found.
Researchers at Kings College London studied 174 depressed adults who were given the device, produced by Flow Neuroscience, to use at home several times a week under video supervision.
Lasting 10 weeks, the trial, the results of which were published in leading journal Nature, comprised three weeks of five 30-minute sessions followed by seven weeks of three 30-minute sessions.
The tool uses two electrodes placed on the forehead to send a weak electrical current into the front of the brain. Through a technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), the Flow headset stimulates the region of the prefrontal cortex linked with low activity in patients suffering from depression, improving signal transmission in neurons.
The current is less than two milliamperes, (a typical phone should have capacities of around 2,500-4,000 milliamperes) so patients were able to carry out daily functions while receiving the treatment. To reduce any risks from prolonged stimulation, the device shuts off after 30 minutes.
Almost half (44.9%) of people who received the full treatment went into remission – meaning they were no longer considered to be depressed – compared to 21.8% for those in the control group, who used an inactive headset. Sixty four per cent were also shown to have an improvement in symptoms of at least 50%.
Professor Cynthia Fu, the study’s senior author and a Professor of Affective Neuroscience and Psychotherapy at King’s IoPPN said: 'The burden of depression is mostly keenly felt by the 280 million people worldwide currently managing symptoms. While a combination of antidepressants and therapy generally proves to be effective for many people, medication can have side-effects that some can find disruptive. Our study has demonstrated that tDCS is a safe and effective alternative that has the potential to help those in need.'
Dr Julian Mutz, King’s Prize Research Fellow at King’s College London, who was not involved in the study, said: 'There is considerable interest in transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) [as a treatment for depression] due to its potential for home-based use. However, data from randomised clinical trials are limited. Prior studies have supported its feasibility but more data are needed to establish efficacy, an important gap that this study addresses.'
He noted that the treatment showed 'a good safety profile, which will provide reassurance to both clinicians and patients... Given that two of the largest randomised controlled trials of tDCS yielded negative results, this trial will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing discussions about tDCS as a treatment option for depression.'
Prof Jonathan Roiser, Professor of Neuroscience & Mental Health, UCL, who was not involved in the study, called the findings 'promising,' but noted that some of the study investigators have 'a financial interest in the company that makes the... device.' He also raised possible issues around how effective the study's blinding – the process via which participants are unaware if they are receiving the actual treatment or a placebo – was, noting that around three quarters of the group using an active headset correctly guessed that they were not in the placebo group.
'This was probably due to minor side effects caused by the stimulation device; mostly skin redness, which occurred in nearly two-thirds of those receiving active stimulation, but also skin irritation and cognitive problems (trouble concentrating) in a small number of patients,' he added.
If you are experiencing depressive symptoms such as low mood or thoughts of self-harm, contact your GP, or call Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123.
How can I access the Flow headset?
Flow Neuroscience is an approved medical device in the UK and EU and is available as a subscription for £79 per month, or for £400 as a one-time purchase.
The tool is already available through NHS partnerships, and could be rolled out across the NHS more widely as more evidence is released supporting its efficacy.
Some patients in the Flow study were already on a stable long-term dose of an antidepressants. While the headset can bet used independently, the trial showed that combining Flow tDCS with the antidepressant led to the even better results of 67.1% of remission, outperforming either drug or device treatment alone. No serious side effects were reported.
How is transcranial direct current stimulation different from electroconvulsive therapy?
Hear the words 'depression' and 'electricity,' and your mind might shoot to controversial electroconvulsive therapy. Transcranial direct current stimulation is distinct from the former, however.
'tDCS is different from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT involves inducing a seizure and is applied under general anaesthesia,' says Dr Muntz. 'ECT is generally reserved for the most difficult-to-treat patients when other treatment approaches have been unsuccessful. tDCS applies mild electrical stimulation to the scalp while the patient is fully awake.'
Read now: 'I upgraded my walks with a weighted vest for a week'
Related stories
Where is the mental-health movement leading us?
Special report: girls' mental health is in crisis
Cut through the noise and get practical, expert advice, home workouts, easy nutrition and more direct to your inbox. Sign up to the WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWSLETTER
You Might Also Like
