Depression is a common mental health problem that affects millions of people around the world.
It can make daily life difficult by causing sadness, lack of energy, and loss of interest in activities.
While many people use medication or talk therapy to treat depression, these methods don’t always work for everyone.
Scientists are now exploring new ways to help, and one promising method involves gentle electrical stimulation of the brain.
A recent study by UCLA Health looked into a new type of brain stimulation called high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation, or HD-tDCS. This treatment is noninvasive, which means it doesn’t require surgery or going inside the body.
It uses small, safe electrical currents delivered through electrodes placed on the scalp. These currents target specific areas of the brain that are linked to emotions and negative thoughts.
This new method is a more precise version of an older treatment known as tDCS. The “high-definition” version uses smaller electrodes and brain imaging to better focus the electrical currents on the exact parts of the brain that need help. This makes the treatment more personalized for each person.
In the study, researchers worked with 71 people who had moderate to major depression. The group was split into two: one group received the real HD-tDCS treatment, while the other group received a fake or “sham” treatment that did not actually stimulate the brain. Both groups had their sessions over 12 working days.
The results were promising. People who received the real HD-tDCS treatment said they felt better after just six days. Their mood continued to improve through the 12 days and even stayed better for at least four weeks after the treatment ended.
This was much faster and more effective than results seen in past studies using older forms of tDCS, as well as traditional treatments like medication or therapy.
Dr. Mayank Anant Jog, one of the researchers, explained that by focusing directly on the brain areas affected by depression, the team was able to improve both mood and daily life for many patients. He also mentioned that this method might help people with anxiety, although more research is needed to confirm that.
Dr. Katherine Narr, the lead researcher, said that the treatment caused very few side effects, and most were mild. Because the method is simple and might be used at home in the future, it could become a good option for people who want something other than medicine or therapy.
However, the study does have a few limits. It didn’t look at how this treatment works with other depression medications. Also, it didn’t fully test how the personalized brain targeting works in each case. Future studies will try to answer these questions and see how long the improvements last with continued treatment.
In summary, this study shows that HD-tDCS could be a safe, fast, and effective way to treat depression. It offers new hope for people who haven’t found relief from other treatments and adds an exciting option to the growing list of mental health therapies.
The study is published in JAMA Network Open.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
