A new brain stimulation treatment delivered with a headset could improve symptoms for women with postnatal depression, a study has found.
The Flow device uses a brain stimulation technique known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to target a region of the brain associated with depression.
Patients only need to use the device for 30 minutes of the day and it does not cause serious side effects.
Around one in 10 women experience postnatal depression, according to the NHS. The most common treatment for the condition is antidepressants or psychotherapy, but this can take time to have an effect on symptoms.
Clinicians at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust observed 13 female patients diagnosed with depression who used the Flow device for a minimum of five weeks.
Twelve out of the thirteen participants reported noticing improvements in their symptoms after using Flow consistently.
More than 90 per cent of those who took part opted to continue using Flow at the end of the study.
One mother who took part said: “I felt like I was walking around in a fog, and that fog cleared, so whilst I still have issues, symptoms, and things I still need to deal with, I feel like I'm in a better position to deal with them. Whereas before, I just couldn't face them.”
Other participants reported increased motivation, social interaction and optimism.
Six participants reported enhanced sleep quality while positive changes in diet were noted by five participants.
Erin Lee, CEO of Flow Neuroscience, told the Standard: “Mothers can be stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to treating depression, desperately needing treatment to feel themselves again, but fearful of medicine that could have a negative effect on their biology at a time when they are particularly vulnerable. With Flow we’re offering a non-invasive alternative to mothers for the first time.”
The Flow device works by delivering a weak direct electrical current via electrodes to restore activity in the left frontal lobe of the brain, which helps to rebalance activity.
It has previously been shown to be effective at reducing symptoms of depression, but this is the first study to confirm its positive impact on new mothers.
Patients can use the device alongside antidepressants and talking therapies.
The research was published in the Open Journal of Depression.
