Science drives everything we do
We've invested in a clinical trial - the gold standard in scientific research.
Here you can find our clinical trial results, data from 1,200 Flow users, and scientific papers on tDCS.
Twice as effective as antidepressants
Flow is twice as effective as the 21 best selling antidepressants1, in a placebo controlled, double-blind, randomised controlled trial.
This is measured using an 'odds ratio' - a common, standardised method of comparing results across trials.
The full paper will be available later this year.
Unlike medication, Flow has 0 serious side effects
When taking antidepressants, 60% of people reported at least 10 adverse side effects. 50% reported suicidality2.
With Flow, 0 serious side effects have been reported3.
<4% of users get minor side effects, the most common are skin irritation and headaches. Both of these stop when the headset is no longer used.
Our users see impressive results
88% improve in 21 days
Depression starts to improve within 3 weeks4
66% have less anxiety in 21 days
Feelings of unease are reduced within 3 weeks4
57% are depression-free
After 10 weeks, depressive symptoms clear1
Leading Doctors and Academics support Flow
Flow’s exciting and encouraging data raise the prospect of a real advance in the treatment of depression…a helpful intervention for many people suffering from major depression.
Allan Young
Chair of Mood Disorders, King’s College London
Flow’s results show a clear separation of active and sham treatment in a large, multisite randomised controlled trial… a very promising development in mental health treatment.
Corey Keller
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Stanford University
Flow has gained popularity among our patients. This positive reception speaks volumes about the effectiveness and patient satisfaction associated with Flow.
Azhar Zafar
GPA Director of Research, NHS GP
With Flow’s brain stimulation headset our highly respected experts now have a new tool to treat depression.
Elena Touroni, PhD
Clinical Director, Chelsea Psychology Clinic
Home-based treatment that is safe and evidence-based. A major step forward for patients with depression.
Sophia Frangou, MD PhD
Professor of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai & Editor-in-Chief of European Psychiatry
By combining tDCS with behavioral therapy, the Flow team has created a powerful treatment solution.
Andre Brunoni, MD PhD
Assoc. Professor of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Sao Paulo
Trustpilot Reviews
We include all of our reviews on our website, we don’t filter any out.
Join 10,000 people using Flow
My life was falling apart around me. I couldn't have anticipated how much better it made me. I will always have to work at staying well, but Flow has given me a reliable tool.
Annie
Aylesbury
After 2-3 weeks, I felt more positive and less pessimistic.
Mirac
Liverpool
I feel so much calmer and more focused after using it.
Tomas
Bournemouth
Flow has really changed my life. I was extremely suicidal and it helped me keep going.
Carlie
Birmingham
After 3 weeks I had become more positive, my head was clearer. I felt less cluttered, more relaxed, and anxious thoughts decreased.
Jade
Bracknell, Berkshire
Meds were making me numb. Since using Flow, I have my sparkle back. I feel alive.
Sarah-Louise
Liverpool
My psychiatrist read about Flow and had good things to say. It gave me the confidence to use the device.
Sergio
Swindon
I was going through a divorce and finding things very challenging. Flow gave me more energy, my brain felt more healthy... it helped me through a dark patch.
Luke
Essex
Since using Flow I have felt a vast difference in my energy. I am happier than I have been for a long time.
Lindsay
Derry
I used to go to bed in the afternoons, now the days don't seem long enough. I feel lighter in my head. I feel alive.
Margaret
UK
I'm beginning to feel a lot, lot better after every session. I'm cutting down on the antidepressants, my mind is less fuzzy and I can think straighter.
Chris
UK
The major benefits for me are that I feel more resilient and able to cope.
Paul
UK
I went on a three hour walk yesterday, which is unheard of me. It's helped me get out the rut.
Dan
UK
Flow's cofounder, Daniel talks about the results
Our founder and Chief Clinical Officer, Daniel talks about the evidence we have so far that Flow is an effective treatment for depression. (6 minutes long)
Over 30 clinical trials show that tDCS is safe and effective
tDCS is now widely accepted by the scientific community as being safe and effective. The NHS also lists tDCS as a treatment for depression on their website.
FAQs
If this is your first time using the headset, we recommend completing at least 15 sessions according to the treatment plan (5 times per week for 3 weeks) before deciding if this treatment is right for you.
Usually at around session 15, users have begun to notice significant positive changes in their depressive symptoms. However, please note everyone is different and some may begin to feel changes earlier. The majority of users continue to feel larger reductions post-15 sessions. These changes have been observed in various tDCS studies.
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.
We recommend following the behavioural therapy courses in the app to further support the creation and maintenance of healthy habits that have been proven to help reduce depression.
If you don't want to do that, you don't have to. You can listen to music, watch TV, some of users do puzzles or sudoku whilst stimulating.
It is important to note that the Flow headset should not be used while operating heavy machinery, near water, or while performing intense exercise.
The headset also requires continuous contact to the forehead.
A stimulation session takes 30 minutes and can be done whenever works best for you. Whether that be while you eat breakfast to start your day, while replying to emails at work, or even reading while winding down for bed. Flow is a wireless headset that can go wherever you go. Just remember to charge it before use.
Some users have reported feeling energized after stimulation and for those, it would be recommended to use Flow earlier in the day. Some users have reported feeling sleepy after stimulation and for those, it would be ideal to use Flow before going to bed.
Most users do not feel sleepy or energized after a stimulation so it does not matter when the stimulation takes place during the day.
88% of Flow users experience an improvement of their depression within 3 weeks with the Flow headset. Though this does differs among different people.
It is important to note that the best results have been seen by following the recommended treatment plan - using the headset 5 times a week for the first 2 weeks, and twice a week after that. Sporadic use of the headset has not been tested or proven effective.
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.
Our real-world data shows that 88% of Flow users experience improvement after just 3 weeks of use. With our 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try Flow and if you find that it doesn’t provide you with the expected results, you can return it within 30 days of receiving it and receive a full refund.
References
1 Double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial (n=173) to measure the effectiveness and safety of Flow’s at-home tDCS depression treatment (2023).
2 Read J, Williams J. Curr Drug Saf. 2018;13 (3) : 176-186.
3 Real world data from Flow, Data on File (n=12,000)
4 Real world data from Flow, Data on File, (n=1,200)