The design of the flow headset resembles a prop from a futuristic movie, featuring a sleek curve and two large circular pads that utilize electrodes to deliver small currents to the brain.
Claimed to aid in treating depression, the company behind the headsets – Flow Neuroscience, priced at £400 (around $520) – boasts a 77% improvement rate in symptoms within just three weeks.
Initially skeptical, I am intrigued by the potential of wearable devices to enhance our well-being. However, I have encountered many grand claims in the past that failed to materialize.
Nevertheless, Flow’s compelling evidence could sway my opinion. Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive impact of the devices on individuals with depression, funded by Flow Neuroscience but conducted by external researchers and mental health professionals.
The most recent research, led by a team from East London University and involving 174 patients in the UK and US, revealed that 56% of those using the flow headset were symptom-free after 10 weeks, prompting consultant psychiatrist Alex O’Neill Kerr to emphasize the significance of these results.
“We’re talking about remission,” O’Neill Kerr remarked. “Symptom-free.”
O’Neill Kerr, who participated in a previous trial with the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and prescribes the headset in his practice, shared anecdotes of how the device had transformed the lives of some patients.
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“Upon initial use, I was astounded,” O’Neill Kerr noted. “Patients are regaining control of their lives. I recently spoke with an individual using a flow device, and it completely turned their life around.”
While not everyone benefits from using the headset, and not all research yields promising outcomes, recent studies have underscored the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) in treating depression. By sending mild currents to the brain, TDCS stimulates less active areas associated with depression, potentially revolutionizing treatment for individuals who are unresponsive to traditional interventions.
O’Neill Kerr highlighted the potential of TDCS to address the underlying communication issues in the brain that lead to depression, offering hope to individuals who do not respond to standard treatments.
With milder side effects compared to traditional antidepressants, such as tingling sensations or headaches near the electrodes, TDCS presents a safer and non-addictive alternative that could be used in conjunction with conventional therapies.
While other TDCS headsets like Platowork and brain driver exist, Flow stands out as the sole device endorsed by the NHS due to its proven efficacy. Ongoing research aims to explore TDCS applications beyond mental health, potentially offering relief for conditions like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and tinnitus.
Envisioning a future where TDCS becomes a standard treatment option, O’Neill Kerr emphasized the profound impact it could have on patients. “It’s restoring your brain to its natural state,” he concluded.
About our experts
Professor Alex O’Neill Kerr, an expert in treating OCD, PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and addiction therapy, has contributed to publications like bjpsych open, Open Journal of Depression, and Journal of Affective Disorder Reports.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
