A recent study indicates that a device providing direct brain stimulation is both safe and effective for at-home treatment of depression.
According to a new study by researchers from UTHealth Houston, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, and the University of East London, a device offering direct brain stimulation is a safe and effective option for treating depression at home.
The findings were published in Nature Medicine on October 21, 2024.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive method that uses a mild direct current of 0.5 to 2 milliamperes delivered to the scalp through two electrodes. It’s widely used in clinical settings to treat various conditions including psychosis and eating disorders. This clinical trial evaluated the use of tDCS in a home environment where patients self-administered the treatment.
The international research was spearheaded by King’s College London. The U.S. site was led by co-author and primary investigator Rodrigo Machado-Vieira, MD, PhD, MSc, a professor at the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UTHealth Houston.
“The findings from our investigation into home-based tDCS potentially mark a significant progress in treating mood disorders by improving accessibility and treatment effectiveness with this new neuromodulation technique,” Machado-Vieira remarked. “These results affirm a favorable safety and efficacy profile consistent with earlier research on patients suffering from depression and bipolar disorder, and the home-based approach may broaden the availability of this treatment to more patients.”
The study involved 174 adults diagnosed with moderate to severe depression. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: one receiving active tDCS and the other receiving inactive tDCS, which employed the same device but did not deliver any current. Treatment was administered over ten weeks, with five 30-minute sessions per week for the first three weeks, followed by three 30-minute sessions per week for the remaining seven weeks.
The analysis revealed that participants receiving active treatment experienced notable improvements in depression severity, clinical response, and rates of remission compared to those in the inactive placebo group. In fact, the treatment response and remission rates were three times higher in the active treatment group, with 44.9% achieving remission compared to just 21.8% in the control group.
“Depression significantly impacts the 280 million individuals globally who are managing symptoms. While a combination of antidepressants and therapy is effective for many, medications can cause side effects that may be disruptive. Our research suggests that tDCS could serve as a potential first-line option for those in need,” stated Cynthia Fu, MD, PhD, the senior author of the study and a professor specializing in affective neuroscience and psychotherapy at King’s College London.
“No medical intervention is perfect. Medications may lead to unexpected side effects, while therapy often requires substantial time and resources. We hope tDCS can provide a practical third option for individuals with moderate to severe depression to help them manage their symptoms more effectively,” added Rachel Woodham, MSc, the study’s primary author and a research assistant at the University of East London.
“This important publication is the culmination of eight years of dedicated work by the wonderful team at Flow and the researchers from King’s College London, UTHealth Houston, and the University of East London who contributed to this study. Nature Medicine is one of the foremost medical journals globally, and this publication highlights the excellence of our study design and results. Our fundamental goal has always been to create a treatment that is effective, safe, and accessible to a broad audience,” commented Daniel MÃ¥nsson, chief clinical officer and co-founder of Flow Neuroscience, the organization that funded this study.
Jair Soares, MD, PhD, co-author and co-lead investigator at UTHealth Houston, is also a professor and holds the Pat R. Rutherford, Jr. Chair in Psychiatry in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School.
“The study’s outcomes offer hope that an innovative treatment may soon be accessible for individuals grappling with mood disorders,” Soares concluded.
