For individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) that does not respond to pharmacotherapy, recent decisions by the U.S. FDA enabling at-home use of neuromodulation devices may provide a bright spot in dark days. Neurolief Ltd. received FDA premarket approval for Proliv Rx, a physician-directed, brain neuromodulation therapy indicated for use as an at-home adjunctive treatment for adults with MDD who failed to respond adequately to at least one previous antidepressant on Jan. 7. That decision follows the December 510(k) clearance for at-home use of the Flow brain-stimulation device by Flow Neuroscience AB as either a monotherapy or as an adjunctive treatment.

The U.S. FDA granted Neuronetics Inc. clearance for use of its Neurostar advanced therapy as an adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder in patients aged 15 to 21, making it the first transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment (TMS) cleared for this age group, the company said.

Magstim Inc. received U.S. FDA clearance for use of its Horizon 3.0 and E-z Cool Coil to treat adult patients diagnosed with both obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). The company’s non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy offers an option for patients who do not find adequate relief from the often life-disrupting symptoms of OCD with exposure therapy or medication.

Depression treatment still isn’t “once and done,” but the time needed to reduce symptoms continues to drop for patients using electromagnetic stimulation. Brainsway Ltd.’s Theta Burst brings treatment times down to just three minutes with its FDA 510(k) clearance.

The U.S. FDA has given the green light to a new type of treatment to help smokers quit, clearing the way for the first time the use of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (Deep TMS) for short-term smoking cessation in adults.

Jerusalem-based Brainsway Ltd. had good news to report with the presentation of positive data from a multicenter study evaluating its deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) system as an aid in smoking cessation.