Brain Zapping at Home Now Approved!

In mid-December 2025, the FDA approved an at home devicethat aims to treat depression by sending electric current into a part of the brain (the prefrontal cortex) known to regulate mood. This has been available in the UK since 2019 but it is new to the US. The manufacturer has stated that over 55,000 patients have used the device across Europe, the UK, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. How does this work? Is there data to support this new therapy? In this episode, we will summarize three consecutive years of data (2023, 2024,2025) to answer that question. Listen in for details.

1. Sci Amer: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-approves-first-device-to-treat-depression-with-brain-stimulation-at-home/

2. August 12, 2023: Burkhardt, Gerrit et al.Transcranial direct current stimulation as an additional treatment to selectiveserotonin reuptake inhibitors in adults with major depressive disorder inGermany (DepressionDC): a triple-blind, randomised, sham-controlled,multicentre trial The Lancet, Volume 402, Issue 10401, 545 – 554

3. October 21, 2024: Woodham, R.D., Selvaraj, S.,Lajmi, N. et al. Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation treatmentfor major depressive disorder: a fully remote phase 2 randomizedsham-controlled trial. Nat Med 31, 87–95 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-

4. December 15, 2025: Moshfeghinia R, Bordbar S,Roointanpour Y, Arab Bafrani M, Shalbafan M. Efficacy and safety of home-basedtranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on patients with depressivedisorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 15;15(1):43850. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-28648-5. PMID:41398008; PMCID: PMC12705823.