New Effective and Safe Treatment for Depression Found

Depression is a growing concern, and with its rise comes the need to find more accessible treatment options. There's no perfect treatment, and while medication and therapy can be highly effective, not everyone has access or is able to continue due to inconvenience. And when it comes to convenience, satisfying our needs right in the comfort of our homes has been the gold standard in 2024.

No, this new treatment isn't telemedicine. The new treatment for depression is a self-administered device that patients can use at home.

The non-invasive device, called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), works by sending direct stimulation to the brain through the scalp via two electrodes.

Best part? A new study has found that the tDCS device is a safe and effective means of treating depression at home, DIY.

Also interesting is that some clinics already use this device to treat psychosis and binge eating disorders. So, it wouldn't be long before this goes mainstream as a third treatment option for depression, in addition to medication and therapy.

And that's great news.

The study results

The study involved 174 adult participants with moderate to severe depression. They were placed into two groups. After 10 weeks of treatment, the active treatment group showed significant improvement in their depression symptoms compared to the placebo group (44.9% vs. 21.8%).

"The study results bring promise that an innovative treatment modality may become available for patients suffering from mood disorders some time in the near future," co-author of the study Jair Soares said.

If you’re battling depression and are yet to begin treatment, please get in touch with us today. You too deserve to live a wholesome life of happiness.

Author

Satu H. Woodland, PMHCNS-BC, APRN Satu Woodland is owner and clinician of Hope Mental Health, an integrative mental health practice located at Bown Crossing in Boise, Idaho. She sees children, adolescents, and adults.  Ms. Woodland with her background in nursing, prefers a holistic and integrative approach to mental health care that addresses the mind and body together. While Ms. Woodland provides medication management services in all her patients, she believes in long-lasting solutions that include a number of psychotherapies, namely cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, attention to lifestyle, evidenced based alternative psychiatric care and spirituality. If you’d like to gain control over your mental health issues, call Hope Mental Health at 208-918-0958, or use the online scheduling tool to set up an initial consultation.