Flow Neuroscience: At the Cutting Edge of Mental Health Innovation
As someone who works in mental health and has faced depression firsthand (along with the side effects of common treatments), I am genuinely excited to see last week’s study by the team at Flow Neuroscience that brings Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) into the spotlight as a promising novel treatment for depression.
I don’t need to cite the staggering statistics on depression's impact—you’ve likely seen it in your own life or in the lives of friends, family or colleagues. Depression can disrupt and stall lives, and the problem is sadly growing, especially among young people.
Traditional first-line treatments like therapy and medication (e.g. SSRIs commonly called anti-depressants) aren’t doing the job: therapy is expensive and often hard to access; and medication doesn’t work for everyone and can have side effects that many people want to avoid. While relatively new apps such as ones promoting lifestyle changes, meditation, and self-guided CBT are a low-cost solution with no side effects, their impact is usually modest and limited to mild or moderate cases.
We need new kinds of tools to fight this. And that’s why tDCS is so exciting.
I first encountered Flow over five years ago, meeting with then-CEO Daniel Mansoon. As a potential user, I was sceptical—who wants something zapping their brain? Is it safe? This reaction is natural and I expect quite common. It is a new technology and we SHOULD be protective of our brains in terms of what we expose it too.
But the data has spoken. And it’s time we start opening our minds to this very promising technology.
Image: Flow Neuroscience
Here’s a summary of what you need to know:
What is tDCS?
tDCS is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique delivering very low electrical currents through electrodes on the scalp. It’s nothing like ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy), which is an effective treatment for otherwise untreatable depression, but uses 100 times higher currents to induce a seizure. Instead, tDCS subtly shifts the electrical potential of neurons, making them more or less likely to fire in response to the brain’s natural activity.
What was the study?
The study followed 174 participants in the UK and US with moderate to severe depression over 10 weeks, comparing an active tDCS device to a placebo version. Participants used the devices at home (at five sessions per week for 3 weeks then three sessions per week for 7 weeks), with guidance from trained staff via videoconference. The supportive environment and regular check-ins likely contributed to improvements seen in the placebo group.
What were the results?
After 10 weeks, the active group showed significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms, using a validated self-reporting scale. The difference between groups was not huge, but big enough to shift someone from severe to moderate symptoms, making a real difference in their daily life.
What are the side effects of tDCS?
Active participants reported side effects like skin redness, irritation, and difficulty concentrating. By contrast, common SSRI side effects include libido changes, sleep disruption, and weight gain. As tDCS is a newer technology, there’s potential to refine the treatment further to minimise side effects and make this treatment a great choice for many people.
I’m really looking forward to following where this innovation goes next.