Regulating Consumer Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Devices

Non-invasive brain stimulation devices, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), are currently being investigated as a potential treatment for a range of psychiatric conditions. tDCS is also being marketed to healthy individuals to enhance academic, sporting and gaming performance, despite little evidence of its real-world effectiveness. The risks involved in unsupervised consumer use of tDCS devices are significantly under-researched in the Australian context and warrant more detailed consideration by the national regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration. This is particularly so with regards to the potential long-term safety risks involved in their use, particularly by vulnerable groups and children.