A home-based depression treatment device that stimulates the brain with a weak electrical current has been launched in the US. It can be used as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with antidepressants, but only with a doctor's prescription. The first 10 weeks of treatment will cost $2,200.
A home-based depression treatment device that stimulates the brain with a weak electrical current has been launched in the US. It can be used as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with antidepressants, but only with a doctor's prescription. The first 10 weeks of treatment will cost $2,200.
Wired reports on this.
The device was developed by Swedish company Flow Neuroscience. It looks like a headset that you wear on your head for about 30 minutes a day.
During use, electrodes on the forehead deliver a very weak direct current. It targets the left part of the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in mood regulation and often becomes less active in depression. Under the influence of the current, neurons in this area can be activated more easily. According to the company, regular sessions should gradually increase the activity of this part of the brain.
This method is called transcranial direct current stimulation, or tDCS. It’s similar in principle to TMS, another approved treatment for depression that typically requires regular visits to a clinic. Flow, on the other hand, is designed for use at home.
The FDA approved the Flow FL-100 back in December 2025 for adults with moderate to severe major depressive disorder. The device became available to patients in the U.S. in September 2026. It can be obtained by prescription after consulting a doctor.
The technology was tested in a randomized trial of 174 people with depression. After 10 weeks, 44.9% of participants using the real Flow device achieved remission, compared with 21.8% in the placebo group. The most common side effects were mild skin irritation, headache, and discomfort at the stimulation site.
The device has been available in Europe since 2019. According to the company, more than 65,000 people have already used it. However, Flow is not officially available in Ukraine yet. The company does not include the country in the list of markets where it supplies the headset.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about another way to influence the brain's functioning with electrical stimulation. Americans Amber Pearson installed a brain implant to treat epilepsy, which doctors additionally configured to combat obsessive-compulsive disorder.
