Research and evidence
tDCS is not an experimental treatment. Over 400 clinical trials have studied it. International guidelines give depression treatment with tDCS an A-level recommendation, the highest level available.¹
Depression: key studies
- In a trial of 174 people using tDCS at home, 57.5% reached full recovery, also called remission, compared with 29.4% with a placebo device.²
- In a real-world study of 410 people, 68% responded to tDCS used on its own.³
- 76% kept their improvement at 6 months, with maintenance sessions.²
- A trial of 120 people found tDCS comparable to sertraline, a commonly prescribed antidepressant medication. Combining the two produced better results than either alone.⁴
Chronic pain: key studies
Clinical guidelines give tDCS a Level B recommendation for chronic pain. This is the second-highest level, one step below depression's A-level rating.¹
Response rates vary. Not everyone responds to tDCS, and results differ from person to person.
Safety
Across more than 33,000 documented tDCS sessions, no serious side effects have been reported.⁵ Reported side effects are typically mild and temporary, including tingling and slight redness.
How tDCS compares with other treatments
Choose an option to compare it with Sooma tDCS, side by side.
Sooma tDCS
Where you use it
Where you use it
Home
Clinic
Home
Hospital
Clinic
Session length
Session length
30 min
20 to 40 min
—
20 to 30 min, under anesthesia
40 to 60 min
Typical course
Typical course
3 weeks, 5 sessions a week, then maintenance
4 to 6 weeks, 5 sessions a week
Ongoing
6 to 12 sessions
6 infusions over 2 to 3 weeks
Systemic side effects
Systemic side effects
—
Headache, scalp pain
Weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, withdrawal
Nausea, confusion, sedation from anesthesia
Dissociation, nausea, blood pressure changes
Clinic visits needed
Clinic visits needed
—
Yes, every session
—
Yes, every session
Yes, every session
Cost
Cost
€599
5,000€ to 10,000€+
20€ to 100€ per month
Varies widely
400€ to 800€ per infusion
Evidence level (depression)
Evidence level (depression)
A-level
A-level
A-level
A-level
Emerging
tDCS and TMS both have A-level evidence. The practical difference is that tDCS is designed for home use, while TMS requires a clinic visit for every session.
tDCS and antidepressant medication show comparable effectiveness in head-to-head trials, though the side effects differ. Many people use tDCS alongside their current medication.
ECT is an effective option for severe depression, though it requires a hospital visit and general anesthesia. Evidence for ketamine is still emerging, and it requires clinic supervision for each infusion.
If you have questions about which option may suit you, a healthcare provider can help.
References
- Fregni, F. et al. Evidence-based guidelines and secondary meta-analysis for the use of transcranial direct current stimulation in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Int. J. Neuropsychopharmacol. 24, 256–313 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyaa051
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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