Study finds at-home brain stimulation therapies reduce depression relapse rate
Charlie Blackie-Kelly | November 14, 2025 | News story | Research and Development | Brain Stimulation Therapies, Flow Neuroscience, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Therapy, depression
A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders has found that home-based, transcranial, direct current stimulation (tDCS) therapy, combined with online behavioural support, prevented relapse in 75% of patients with major depressive disorder.
The PSYLECT study, led by the University of São Paulo Medical School, was conducted in collaboration with Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, the University of Ghent, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Participants used an at-home brain stimulation device twice weekly for six months. Results showed that the majority of patients maintained recovery through brain stimulation therapy alone, without requiring in-person visits or additional interventions.
“Home-based brain stimulation bridges a major treatment gap, helping patients sustain long-term recovery after antidepressants or psychotherapy,” said Erin Lee, CEO of Flow Neuroscience, the company behind a tDCS device for depression used in the study. “Many people struggle to pay for visits or travelling to the clinic, or simply are too busy to attend several sessions a week. This is when at-home therapy comes to the rescue.”
tDCS devices deliver low electrical currents to the brain to help regulate activity in the prefrontal cortex – a region involved in mood regulation and stress response that tends to be underactive in people with depression.
Researchers noted that the at-home format could improve adherence and scalability, offering comparable efficacy to in-clinic treatments while reducing costs and logistical barriers.
“Many people with a history of depression might find it easier to stick to home-based therapy, as it’s less effort compared to regular in-clinic visits,” noted Dr Kultar Singh Garcha, a GP and Medical Director at Flow Neuroscience. “Even months into treatment, many patients still feel physically and emotionally exhausted, so lowering the effort can help them keep going.”
This article featured in: December 2025 – The Pharmafile Brief
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