Health
Prescription brain stimulation headset for depression launches in the United States
Swedish company Flow Neuroscience has launched its at-home depression headset in the US, according to Wired.
The short version
- Flow Neuroscience has made its FDA-approved brain stimulation headset available by prescription to US patients.[Wired]
- The wearable delivers low-intensity electrical currents to the left frontal lobe for 30 minutes daily to treat depression.[Wired]
- Clinical trials showed a 45 percent symptom remission rate at 10 weeks, compared to 22 percent in a sham control group.[Wired]
- US patients must currently pay out of pocket, with costs reaching $2,200 for the first 10 weeks.[Wired]
Key facts
- The Flow Neuroscience headset is now available by prescription in the United States following FDA approval last December.[Wired]
- The device applies low-intensity electrical stimulation to the brain's left frontal lobe during 30-minute daily sessions via an app.[Wired]
- A clinical trial of 174 patients found 45 percent achieved symptom remission at 10 weeks versus 22 percent in the sham control group.[Wired]
- US users must pay out of pocket at a cost of $2,200 for 10 weeks and $325 monthly thereafter.[Wired]
- The device has been approved in Europe since 2019 and is being piloted by the UK's National Health Service.[Wired]
What remains uncertain
- It remains uncertain whether or when US health insurance providers will cover the device to reduce out-of-pocket costs.[Wired]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.