Yes. The Flow device was designed by experts and is based on tDCS techniques that have been used in clinics for over a decade to treat depression. The Flow device has undergone research that confirms it is a safe and effective treatment for depression. tDCS is also listed as a treatment for depression on the NHS website.

Read more about Safety and Precautions here.

It is not always necessary to talk to a doctor before using Flow and you don't need a prescription.

If any of the following applies to you, then you should talk with your doctor before using Flow:

• You are pregnant or think you might be
• You have a skull problem or metal parts in or around the brain, like brain surgery clips, metal plates or screws in the skull, cochlear implants or brain pacemakers such as those used for Parkinson’s disease
• You have epilepsy or have had seizures
• You have a device implanted in your body, like a heart pacemaker, cochlear implant, spinal cord stimulator, vagal nerve stimulator, implanted hearing aid or defibrillator
• You have a skin condition affecting your forehead, such as psoriasis or there is redness, a cut or the skin is infected when it’s recommended to wait until that heals
• You currently have thoughts about suicide or harming yourself
• You are thinking of changing something about your current treatment
• You are unsure about your diagnosis

If the Flow treatment is helpful for the first 10 weeks of your treatment, we recommend you to continue for at least another 6 to 12 months, even if you have become symptom-free.

Our team of clinicians have developed detailed guidance on how to use Flow which you can read here.

Flow has been tested on depression. We don't have any specific clinical research on how it impacts anxiety on its own.

However, every week people who use Flow answer a questionnaire and we've found that around 66% are less anxious after using Flow for 3 weeks.

We recommend talking to your Doctor if you're considering using Flow for a stand-alone diagnosis of anxiety.

Yes - Flow is perfectly safe to use with antidepressants, and many people use it alongside medication. In our clinical trial we saw that using antidepressants alongside Flow actually enhances the treatment. 69% of people who used both Flow and antidepressants were no longer clinically depressed at 10 weeks (compared with 51% of those who just used Flow).

If you are thinking about lowering your dose of antidepressants, or coming off them completely, you should talk to your Doctor first.

Flow is a medical device, under the following circumstances you should take extra precaution and talk to your Doctor before you use it:

• You are pregnant or think you might be
• You have a skull problem or metal parts in or around the brain, like brain surgery clips, metal plates or screws in the skull, cochlear implants or brain pacemakers such as those used for Parkinson’s disease
• You have epilepsy or have had seizures
• You have a device implanted in your body, like a heart pacemaker, cochlear implant, spinal cord stimulator, vagal nerve stimulator, implanted hearing aid or defibrillator
• You have a skin condition affecting your forehead, such as psoriasis or there is redness, a cut or the skin is infected when it’s recommended to wait until that heals
• You currently have thoughts about suicide or harming yourself
• You are thinking of changing something about your current treatment
• You are unsure about your diagnosis

Using the headset feels different for everyone. A number of factors will affect how you experience Flow, for example, sleep quality and skin sensitivity and therefore sensations may vary among sessions. It usually feels a little more intense during the first 3 minutes of a stimulation session.

Some people have reported not feeling anything while others have reported feeling an itchy, slightly tingling sensation; like a stinging or a mild burning sensation on the forehead.

Please visit our Help Centre to find answers to other commonly asked questions.