Scientists unveil brain-zapping headphones that could help tackle symptoms of depression in people’s homes
Brain-zapping headphones could be used to treat depression at home, a study suggests.
Researchers have found that patients who use the device for 30 minutes a day can triple their chances of beating the condition.
The mental illness – also called major depressive disorder – affects around one in six adults in Britain and its prevalence appears to be increasing.
Current treatment includes antidepressants and psychological therapies, but more than a third of people diagnosed with the disorder do not fully recover.
An international team led by researchers from King’s College London (KCL) investigated whether brain zapping could work as a treatment.
Researchers have found that patients who use the device – called Flow FL-100 – for 30 minutes a day can triple their chances of beating the condition
The mental illness – also called major depressive disorder – affects around one in six adults in Britain and its prevalence appears to be increasing. (Stock photo)
Their headset, called Flow FL-100, features two electrodes that deliver a weak, direct current to the scalp.
It is already commercially available and targets a part of the brain linked to low activity in people with depression.
A total of 174 patients took part, half of whom received the ‘tingling’ brain stimulation. The other half, the “control group,” wore the device but received only a brief current to mimic the feeling.
Participants used the device at home while being monitored by scientists via video link.
The treatment lasted half an hour at a time and patients received five sessions per week for the first three weeks, followed by three sessions per week for the next seven weeks.
Analysis showed that the treatment alleviated all symptoms of depression in more than half of the patients by the end of the trial.
And those who received the treatment were up to three times more likely to experience remission compared to the control group.
The team said their findings suggest that at-home brain stimulation could potentially serve as a first-line treatment for people with depression.
An international team led by researchers from King’s College London (KCL) investigated whether brain zapping could work as a treatment
Current treatment includes antidepressants and psychological therapies, but more than a third of people diagnosed with the disorder do not fully recover. (Stock photo)
Professor Cynthia Fu, senior author of the study, said: ‘The burden of depression is felt especially acutely by the 280 million people worldwide who are currently experiencing symptoms.
‘Although a combination of antidepressants and therapy appears to be generally effective for many people, medications can have side effects that some find disturbing.
“Our research has shown that (the device) is a potential first-line option that could help those in need.”
Commenting on the findings, Allan Young, director of the Center for Affective Disorders at KCL’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, said: ‘These results are very exciting and are likely to have a significant impact on the future treatment of depression.
‘Major depression is undertreated around the world and current treatment modalities have significant limitations.
‘This trial shows that this treatment is both effective and well tolerated, providing patients who currently struggle to find options that work for them with a vital new alternative.’
The findings have been published in the journal Nature Medicine.