Depres­sion treatment

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a well-researched, evidence-based treatment for depression. Sooma is medically approved to treat depression, and you can use it safely on its own or alongside your current medication and therapy.

How tDCS targets depression

Depression is consistently linked to an imbalance in a brain area called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).¹

The left side tends to be underactive. The right side, linked to negative emotion, is often overactive. tDCS works on both sides at once.

One electrode gently raises activity on the left, while the other lowers activity on the right. Interventional trials suggest this helps bring the two sides back into balance.¹

What the evidence shows

57.5%

reached full recovery, also called remission, in a home-based trial of 174 people, compared with a placebo device.²

68%

responded to tDCS used on its own, in a real-world study of 410 people.³

76%

kept their improvement at the 6-month follow-up, with continuation sessions.²

Response rates vary. Not everyone responds to tDCS, and results differ from person to person.

tDCS acts on a targeted brain area, not the whole body. So it does not have whole-body side effects such as weight gain or changes in sexual function.

A separate trial compared tDCS directly with sertraline, a commonly prescribed antidepressant medication, in 120 people. Both worked about as well as each other.⁴

Across more than 33,000 documented tDCS sessions, no serious side effects have been reported.⁵

Who this may suit

tDCS for depression may be a good fit if you:

  • want a non-drug treatment option
  • want a treatment you can do at home, on your own schedule
  • are already taking antidepressant medication and want to add a non-drug treatment alongside it
  • want to avoid systemic side effects such as weight gain or sexual dysfunction

Many people use tDCS on its own. Others use it alongside their current antidepressant medication.

Where Sooma tDCS is available

Home delivery is available in Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Sweden.

You can get Sooma tDCS through a clinic in Estonia, Finland, France and Germany.

You can get Sooma tDCS through a local distributor in Australia, Austria, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.

For more details, see  Where to find Sooma.

What's in the kit

Sooma tDCS™ Home Therapy needs no prescription. Order it, then set it up at home with the Sooma App. Everything you need is included, from the stimulator to the electrodes.
What's in the kit

Frequently asked questions

  • No. Most people feel tingling, itching, or warmth on the skin under the electrodes during the session. In clinical data, these sensations are usually mild and short-lived; some people find them briefly uncomfortable at first, but they often ease within the first few minutes. tDCS uses a very gentle current - far less than you'd feel from static electricity.

  • Most people begin to notice improvements within 2 to 3 weeks of regular sessions. Some feel changes sooner — improved sleep quality and energy are often among the first things people notice. Others take a bit longer. The full treatment course is typically 3 to 6 weeks. This is generally faster than antidepressant medication, which often requires 6 to 8 weeks before you know whether it is working.

  • Yes. tDCS can be used alongside antidepressant medication. One key advantage of tDCS is that it's safe to combine with different types of medications. As tDCS does not enter your system like medications do, it can not have pharmacological interactions. In fact, the SELECT-TDCS trial demonstrated that tDCS combined with sertraline produced better outcomes than either treatment by itself. Many patients start tDCS as an add-on to their existing medication, and some are later able to reduce their medication in consultation with their doctor. We recommend consulting your doctor before making any changes to your treatment plan.

  • tDCS should not be used by people who have devices or metal objects on or inside the skull, or who have acute eczema or broken skin in the area where the electrodes are placed. Note that Sooma tDCS™ is compatible with cardiac pacemakers.

  • No. You can purchase Sooma tDCS™ directly for home delivery, no prescription is needed. However, we recommend consulting your doctor before beginning any new treatment or making changes to your treatment plan. If you have questions about whether tDCS is right for you, a healthcare provider can help.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a medical advice.

References

  1. Grimm, S. et al. Imbalance between left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in major depression is linked to negative emotional judgment: an fMRI study in severe major depressive disorder. Biol. Psychiatry 63, 369–376 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.05.033
  2. Woodham, R. D. et al. Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation treatment for major depressive disorder: a fully remote phase 2 randomized sham-controlled trial. Nat. Med. 31, 87–95 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03305-y
  3. Lõokene, M., Markov, N., Nikander, M., Neuvonen, T. & Dilkov, D. Reduction of symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder after transcranial direct current stimulation treatment: A real-world study. J. Affect. Disord. Rep. 8, 100347 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2022.100347
  4. Brunoni, A. R. et al. The sertraline vs. electrical current therapy for treating depression clinical study: results from a factorial, randomized, controlled trial. JAMA Psychiatry 70, 383–391 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1001/2013.jamapsychiatry.32
  5. Bikson, M. et al. Safety of transcranial direct current stimulation: evidence-based update 2016. Brain Stimul. 9, 641–661 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2016.06.004