FLOW

FLOW is a safe, medication-free treatment for depression and low mood. 

Treatment is delivered via a wireless headset using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). This convenient headset, developed to be used in the comfort of your own home, delivers gentle electrical current to stimulate and strengthen the part of your brain that regulates mood, the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex. This area of the brain tends to be less active when depressed. 

The tDCS technology has been used in clinical settings for over 25 years and proven safe and effective across multiple independent trials. 

The headset is activated via a very user-friendly app on a phone or tablet.  The Flow app also provides additional support with managing depressive symptoms via useful educational content. 

Stimulations last 30 minutes and can be done while just relaxing, watching tv, walking around the house, as long as you have your phone next to you to maintain the connection to the app. You complete 5 stimulations in the first three weeks (activation phase), and then reduce to 3 stimulations in the weeks that follow (strengthening phase). Around 77% of users report a clinical improvement after the first three weeks. To fully understand Flow’s impact, 10 full weeks of treatment is recommended. You can continue to use the headset for at least 6 months, even if you feel better, as this helps reduce the risk of relapse.

You have the option to link your FLOW app to an official FLOW clinic, which, if you'd like to choose me for this, you can. The advantage of being connected to a clinic is that I can monitor your progress and you will be able to contact me at any time. We can discuss and review your progress, and I can adjust your schedule if necessary. If you haven't used your headset for a while and want to start up again, I can reset your progress so you can start afresh. 

Click to read the BBC News article: "The headset helps my depression so I can be a dad again"

Click to read the SKY News article: "Electric headset for treating depression recommended as widespread treatment after NHS trial"