Therapeutic Indications · Mood and Behavior Disorders
For the doctor and psychologist who follow patients with anxiety, depression or stress-related disorders and evaluate a complementary, non-invasive and drug-free option. On this page: what exists, what has been studied, with what limits.
In practice
In outpatient practice, some patients with anxiety, depression or stress-related disorders respond partially to the set pathway – pharmacological, psychotherapeutic or combined. This is no exception: It is a stable share of daily work.
When that happens, the options that remain almost always come at a cost: a change or addition of medication, with timing and tolerability to manage; a frequency of sessions that not everyone supports; Or the wait. The room for manoeuvre narrows precisely where it would be most useful.
It is in this space that it makes sense to consider a complementary option — provided that it is non-invasive, applicable with standardised protocols and can be integrated into the route without replacing it.
What exists
For mood and behavior disorders REAC® Technology provides neuromodulation protocols of the Neuro Psycho Physical Optimization family, applied with the medical device BENE Mod 110. The scope, as defined in the technical documentation, includes depressive and anxiety disorders, emotional dysregulation and stress-related disorders.
A single ear application of 500 milliseconds. In the technical documentation it is also indicated for the initial neurophysiological regulation of vegetative and emotional functions; Study DASS-42 of 2019 precedes the NPPO cycle.
Point application on the auricle with the handpiece probe: seven pulses of 500 milliseconds per session, in cycles of 18 sessions. Reserved for doctors and psychologists trained on technology.
Surface application on the cervicobrachial area with the ACP electrode, held in place by a tubular network: about four minutes per session, in cycles of 18 sessions. For doctors, dentists and psychologists.
The treatment is painless, occurs on intact skin and, according to the technical documentation, there are no known contraindications to the concomitant use of pharmacological therapies.
What literature says
Twelve clinical publications by Rinaldi and Fontani (2009–2025) on anxiety, depression and stress-related disorders are indexed on PubMed. These include: a randomised double-blind versus placebo study, a single-blind versus placebo analysis in 888 subjects, a controlled study with an untreated group and some case series. Here the main ones, with design and number.
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes · 2010
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (pilot study) · 200 participants (150 treated, 50 placebo) · adults with stress-related symptoms · PSM scale, 18 sessions in 4 weeks · registered with ANZCTR.
View on PubMed →Health and Quality of Life Outcomes · 2011
Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, naturalistic · 888 participants · NPPO protocol, 4-week cycle · PSM scale · ANZCTR registered. The same cohort is analysed in two other publications (Indian Journal of Medical Research 2010; Patient Preference and Adherence 2012).
View on PubMed →Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment · 2019
Controlled with untreated group, not blinded · DASS-42 scale prior to treatment and approximately three months later · NPO and NPPO protocols · number not reported in the abstract.
View on PubMed → Read the summary in the News →Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment · 2011
Pilot study, open, without control group · 24 patients · generalized anxiety disorder with major depression in comorbidity, in drug treatment · HAM-D and SCL-90-R scales.
View on PubMed →The limits to know: controlled studies use self-administered scales; three publications analyse the same cohort; the most recent work is a series of cases; 2010–2012 studies were conducted with the previous generation of the device, with the same technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a complementary option, not a substitute. According to the technical documentation, no contraindications to the concomitant use of pharmacological therapies are known. The framing, the selection of the treatment and the evaluation of the results remain with the professional.
A cycle consists of 18 sessions of a few minutes each, interspersed with a minimum of one hour to a maximum of two weeks. The technical documentation recommends one to three cycles per year.
It is a medical device for professional use, reserved for doctors, dentists and psychologists trained in the use of technology and protocols.
Treatment is contraindicated in established or suspected pregnancy, in carriers of pacemakers or other active implantable devices and in the presence of damaged skin in the area of application. The expected side effects reported in the technical documentation — in about one in ten patients — are nausea (feeling sick), headache, anxiety, restlessness, mood swings, asthenia and muscle soreness, spontaneously regressing.
A discussion with technical-scientific support to examine relevant protocols, technical documentation and publications, and understand how it fits into the workflow. The pathway includes initial training and ongoing assistance: Route and Support.
The indications of use, contraindications and warnings of REAC® devices are only those indicated in the technical documentation and in the instructions for use, in accordance with the regulatory framework for medical devices. This page describes the areas of application documented, without constituting a promise of clinical outcome.
Let's talk about it with technical and scientific support: an assessment, without obligation.
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EnterFor information on treatments you can contact the Rinaldi Fontani Institute in Florence.
Go to irf.itLegislative Decree No 46 of 24 February 1997 — Article 21