Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Used at Home for People with a Diagnosis of Depression: Sleep Quality Outcomes

Background: There is a high prevalence of sleep quality problems and insomnia in people with depression. Insomnia is a common, distressing, and impairing sleep disorder and is linked to poor mental and physical health. Research evidence indicates that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can reduce symptoms of insomnia and improve sleep quality. Flow FL-100 is a tDCS device self-administered at home. Purpose/aim: To investigate the impact of up to 10 weeks of Flow Neuroscience AB FL-100 tDCS use on sleep quality in people with depression, using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale Self (MADRS-S) sleep quality question. Methods: A retrospective analysis of MADRS-S self-report data collected between 2020 and 2024. Results: 6229 datasets of people who received tDCS and who self-reported insomnia were analysed. The MADRS-S sleep quality remission rates in people who adhered to the tDCS protocol were 36.1% at one week, 43.1% at two weeks, 50.2% at three weeks, 59.3% at six weeks and 63.2% at ten weeks. Conclusion: The results show that tDCS may improve sleep quality in those with depression and insomnia. Due to problems with existing insomnia treatment options, it is important to be able to offer additional evidence-based insomnia treatments. Appropriately designed and powered randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and testing of feasibility in healthcare settings are warranted.