Brain stimulation at home helps to treat depression

A device that delivers a small electrical current to the brain has beneficial effects in cases of depression that doesn't respond to drugs or therapy.

Originally published by Miryam Naddaf on 21 October 2024

A healthy brain (fMRI image). Researchers are investigating the effects of stimulating regions of the brain linked to depression. Credit: Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute/Science Photo Library

A remote clinical trial involving more than 150 people has shown that an experimental treatment for depression — which uses a swimming-cap-like device to gently stimulate the brain — can be effective when carried out at home.

The non-invasive therapy, known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is designed to stimulate areas of the brain linked to mood regulation, and delivers a painless, weak electrical current through electrodes placed on the scalp. It could be a game-changer for the more than one-third of people with depression who do not respond to standard treatments such as antidepressants or psychotherapy.

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