Depression can be treated with a hat, a Finnish company received a research permit in the United States

Finnish Sooma, a health technology company in the United States, has received a research permit for depression in the so -called hat.

Treatment is about stimulating brain stimulation with a weak electric current, which is derived by electrodes placed on the skull surface. They are attached to the headgear.

Such a transcranial DC stimulation, or TDCS treatment, is already used in Europe.

In Finland DC stimulation is used to some extent in the treatment of depression, according to the service menu council last year for a recommended memory.

The patient can also use the hat at home.

Now Sooma has been authorized by the US Food and Medicines Agency for the FDA to investigate the home use of the company developed by the company.

The purpose is to start a clinical study in the United States as soon as possible, says Soman CEO Tuomas Neuvonen.

The multi -stage marketing authorization process will be launched during the spring. A Finnish company wants to expand its operations to North America. Studies in the United States are one prerequisite for obtaining a marketing authorization.

HS told about the beginning of the year A study published in Nature Medicine, which was clearly alleviated by the symptoms of depression for subjects receiving DC stimulation.

The purpose of the treatment is to stimulate especially the front cortex, which is responsible for, for example, decision -making. Depressed people often have lower brain function than healthy.

“The electric current used is just on the senses threshold. It causes mild tingling on the skin surface. A bit like ants on the skin, ”Neuvonen describes.

In Finland Treatment of transcranial DC stimulation has increased in recent years.

According to information from the public health care registry register, a total of 219 patients received treatment in 2023.

According to Sooma’s sales, it seems that in 2024, about 2,200 treatment periods were started, says Neuvonen.

Studies Still, they are minor compared to the use of antidepressants. In Finland they ate them In 2023 more than 600,000 people. Antidepressants also treat, for example, anxiety and insomnia.

Care -According to the recommendation, the effectiveness of TDCS treatment is at most antidepressants.

Sooma is not the only company that has developed technology based on brain volume stimulation. This has also been developed, for example, by Flow Neuroscience, a Swedish company.