A New Headset to Help With Depression Is Now Available in the US — SkimNews
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- Flow Neuroscience, a Swedish firm, launched its prescription depression headset in the US, positioning the device as an alternative to the roughly 1 in 6 American adults currently taking antidepressants
- The device delivers low-intensity electrical stimulation to the left frontal lobe for 30 minutes a day via an app, targeting the same brain region as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which requires clinic visits five days a week and can cost up to $15,000 uninsured
- Flow's FDA-cleared trial of 174 people with major depressive disorder found 45% achieved remission at 10 weeks versus 22% in a sham-device control group, with reported side effects limited to skin irritation, headaches, and trouble concentrating
- Pricing is set at $2,200 for the first 10 weeks and $325 per month thereafter, entirely out of pocket because Flow has not yet secured insurance reimbursement
- CEO Daniel Månsson, a former clinical psychologist, said he designed the device for safe home use; early backer and billionaire venture capitalist Vinod Khosla predicted patients would prefer a "nondrug, nonchemical treatment"
- In Europe, more than 65,000 people have used the Flow headset since its 2019 approval, and the UK's National Health Service is currently piloting it
Why it matters: For the significant share of patients who can't tolerate antidepressants' side effects or can't access $15,000 TMS clinic treatment, Flow offers a middle path — but at $2,200 out of pocket plus $325 monthly thereafter, its long-term cost will exceed generic antidepressants unless Flow secures insurance coverage, which the company says it's still pursuing.
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