Research suggests that brain stimulation at home can help reduce depression symptoms.

A new study reveals that a wearable headset, delivering low-level electrical impulses from a 9-volt battery, could ease depression symptoms when used at home.

Published in *Nature Medicine* last week, the study showed that 87 adults with moderate to severe depression who used the active headset for 10 weeks experienced significant improvements in their symptoms, compared to a control group wearing a similar but inactive device.

In addition, twice as many participants who received the active treatment reported remission of their depressive symptoms—45% compared to just 22% in the placebo group.

Dr. Rodrigo Machado-Vieira, a psychiatrist at UTHealth Houston, explained that 'remission' means patients no longer experience active depressive episodes after treatment.

In other words, if patients who achieved remission with the device completed a questionnaire about their symptoms, they might report some issues, such as sleep disturbances or anxiety, but these wouldn't be severe enough to be considered clinically depressed, he explained.

Machado-Vieira clarified that while the company behind the headset funded the study, the financial support was directed into a general research fund at his university, and he has no personal financial interest in the product.

Rebalancing brain activity in cases of depression

The device is currently available in the UK, Norway, Hong Kong, and various EU countries. Manufactured by Swedish company Flow Neuroscience, it is also in the final stages of seeking approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to be marketed for depression treatment in the United States.

There are similar devices available in the US, but most of them don't claim to address any specific symptoms or conditions. Instead, they often promise to boost alertness and concentration without targeting particular areas of the brain.

The Flow Neuroscience headset comes with an app featuring a video tutorial and a telemedicine session to ensure users properly position the electrodes. The electrodes stimulate two key brain areas: the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, involved in executive functions and cognition, and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate emotions. Research shows that individuals with depression often exhibit decreased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and increased activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

The device is designed to boost brain activity in the underactive regions and reduce overactivity in the areas that are too active, explained Daniel Mansson, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Flow Neuroscience.

You're essentially working to restore balance in brain activity, he explained.

Rather than directly stimulating brain cells, the device helps facilitate proper brain function using a technique known as transcranial direct current stimulation.

The device applies a low electrical current that adjusts the neuron's action potential, making it easier for the neurons to fire or discharge, explained Dr. Cynthia Fu, a professor at the Centre for Affective Disorders at King’s College London and the study's lead researcher. Fu also clarified that she has no financial interest in the device.

A 'tingling' sensation with potential brain benefits

Leana De Hoyos, a 34-year-old mother of two from Houston, was one of the participants in the study.

De Hoyos, who has struggled with mental health challenges since her teenage years, immediately agreed to participate when she received an email from her psychiatry clinic inviting her to test the Flow headset.

One of De Hoyos' most challenging symptoms is executive dysfunction, where she feels the urge to accomplish something but physically cannot bring herself to do it. 'I just feel overwhelmed or can't seem to get started,' she explained.

For the study, she would wear the headset and join a virtual meeting where a study monitor would observe her for 30 minutes as she underwent the treatment.

She describes the sensation from the brain stimulation as a slight buzzing, along with some tingling and a bit of burning.

‘It feels strangely similar to having your hair bleached,’ De Hoyos said. ‘It’s like a mild, spicy sensation.’

It took a few weeks, but she began to notice a difference. ‘The more I used the device, the more motivated I felt to actually get things done,’ she shared.

De Hoyos mentioned that one of her greatest challenges is keeping her home tidy.

‘I have what I call doom piles—random piles of things that need to be put away, but I can’t figure out where they go,’ she explained.

However, after using the headset, the doom piles began to disappear.

‘There was a moment when I realized, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m actually staying on top of this and tackling it on my own,’ she recalled.

Although she had to return the headset after the study, she said she would definitely use it again if it becomes available in the US.

Assisting people in using brain stimulation at home

Fu explained that when her team first began exploring transcranial direct current stimulation for treating depression, they started by reviewing existing medical literature.

They discovered numerous studies indicating the technology’s potential effectiveness, but all of them were conducted in clinical settings. Since the therapy needs to be administered regularly to be effective, it seemed impractical for patients to continue visiting a clinic.

‘We thought, ‘Let’s see if we can offer this at home,’ Fu said. They developed a new protocol and ran tests to evaluate it.

She believes the study confirms that people can safely and effectively use the technology on their own, without needing to visit a doctor’s office.

Fu believes the treatment is effective enough that it could become a primary option for treating depression. It might also serve as a supplementary solution for those who feel their medications aren't providing sufficient relief.

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The duration of the device's effects is still unclear, Fu noted.

After 10 weeks in either the placebo or treatment group, the study was unblinded, allowing those in the placebo group to use the active headset. This phase lasted an additional 10 weeks, meaning participants used the active treatment for a total of about five months.

Once the study concluded, Fu said they followed up with participants at three and six months to assess their progress.

‘We’re in the process of submitting this for publication,’ she said. ‘In general, people continue to feel well, but further investigation is needed.’

Flow Neuroscience's Mansson explained that while the device hasn’t been specifically studied for conditions like seasonal affective disorder or postpartum depression, it is approved for treating major depressive disorder in Europe, meaning it can also be used for those subtypes.

The device appears to be quite safe, with no serious adverse events reported in clinical trials, but Mansson cautioned that some individuals should consult their doctors before using it. These include:

De Hoyos mentioned that, overall, she experienced some slight positive effects from using the device and wished she could have continued using it longer.

‘I felt like I was on the verge of a breakthrough just before the study ended. It didn’t feel like enough time,’ she said. ‘I really wanted to continue and see if using it more would make an even bigger difference.’