Researchers have found that a device delivering direct brain stimulation, known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is a safe and effective way to treat depression at home.
The study, conducted by teams from UTHealth Houston, King’s College London, and the University of East London, was published in Nature Medicine on October 21, 2024.
What is tDCS?
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive treatment that uses a weak electrical current (between 0.5 to 2 milliampere) delivered through two electrodes placed on the scalp. This low-level current aims to gently stimulate specific areas of the brain.
tDCS has already been used in clinical settings to address various conditions like psychosis and eating disorders. This new study explored its potential as a home-based treatment for depression, making it easier for patients to access and manage their therapy.
How Was the Study Conducted?
The international study was led by King’s College London, with contributions from researchers across three institutions. The lead investigator in the U.S. was Rodrigo Machado-Vieira, a professor at UTHealth Houston.
The study included 174 adults diagnosed with moderate to severe depression. Participants were randomly divided into two groups—one receiving active tDCS and the other receiving a placebo treatment (inactive tDCS that didn’t provide a current).
Participants in both groups used the device at home for a 10-week period. In the first three weeks, they had five 30-minute sessions per week, followed by three sessions per week for the next seven weeks.
The results were impressive, showing significant improvements in those who received active tDCS compared to those in the placebo group.
Study Findings
The study found that participants who received the active treatment showed major improvements in their depression severity, overall response, and remission rates.
The response and remission rates were notably higher—44.9% of participants in the active group reached remission, compared to 21.8% in the placebo group. This means the chances of achieving remission were about three times higher with active tDCS treatment.
Cynthia Fu, a senior author and professor at King’s College London, pointed out that many people worldwide live with depression, and while medications and therapy can be effective, medications may cause side effects, and therapy requires time and resources.
The promising results of this study suggest that tDCS could become a new first-line option for treating depression without some of these drawbacks.
Potential Benefits of tDCS
Rachel Woodham, the first author of the study and a researcher at the University of East London, noted that tDCS offers a promising alternative to traditional depression treatments.
While medications can have unwanted side effects, and therapy can be time-consuming, tDCS offers a third option for managing symptoms in patients with moderate to severe depression.
Daniel Månsson, co-founder of Flow Neuroscience, highlighted the collaboration among researchers and the dedication involved over eight years of work to bring this new treatment closer to patients.
He emphasized that the goal has always been to create a safe, effective, and widely accessible treatment.
Future Implications
Jair Soares, a co-lead investigator at UTHealth Houston, expressed optimism about the study’s implications. He believes that tDCS could become a valuable treatment option for people struggling with mood disorders in the near future.
As the research continues, this breakthrough offers hope for a new, accessible therapy for those living with depression.
A Promising Path Forward
This study opens the door to using home-based brain stimulation as a way to improve the lives of millions dealing with depression. While more research is needed, tDCS could potentially provide a practical, low-risk alternative for those who have not found relief with traditional approaches.
Researchers are hopeful that this simple yet effective treatment could soon be made widely available, giving more people the opportunity to manage their symptoms in a convenient and accessible way.
If you care about health, please read studies that scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about drug for mental health that may harm the brain, and results showing this therapy more effective than ketamine in treating severe depression.
The research findings can be found in Nature Medicine.
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