For the first time, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for ADHD that isn't a drug. Instead, it's a medical device, known as Monarch eTNS, that works by stimulating the nervous system with an electric current.
Nervous stimulation at different parts of the body has been proven effective in treating conditions like depression and epilepsy, CBS New York explained. The device administers a mild "electrical shock" — in ADHD cases, to the nerves in the forehead — which is thought to help calm the part of the brain that causes the hyperactivity typical of people with ADHD.
This treatment is groundbreaking because ADHD treatment is tricky. While several drugs have proven effective, they often come with side effects. On the other hand, going without treatment can often lead to further mental health complications, such as "depression, chemical dependency, trouble learning in school, and trouble with the law," said Jeffrey Borenstein, the CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
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So non-drug treatments like this one are a major step in reducing the side effects and complications in people with ADHD. While it's still not entirely clear why electrical stimulation helps with hyperactivity, double-blind studies have found significant success, which is why the FDA approved the Monarch eTNS for treatment.
Further studies will need to be conducted to answer questions of how long the effects last, whether the Monarch eTNS can entirely replace ADHD drugs, and whether this will work with people of different ages. But for now, the device is available by prescription for about $1,000. Read more at CBS New York.
