Could a facial zapping device treat depression at home?
NCT ID NCT06261177
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a device that sends mild electrical pulses to facial muscles can help treat major depression. Twenty adults with depression will use the device at home for 45 minutes daily over four weeks. The main goal is to see if the approach is feasible and safe, with a secondary look at whether it improves mood.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new, non-drug treatment option for depression that people can use at home.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early feasibility study with only 20 people. It is designed to test if the approach is practical and safe, not yet to prove it works for depression.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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