A Summary Look at Studies of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation by Ray B. Smith, Ph.D. Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation provides small pulses of electric current across the head of patients for the FDA recognized treatment of depression, anxiety and insomnia. CES has been in clinical use in the U.S.A. since 1963 and in Europe since 1953. Hundreds of thousands of patients have been treated with CES over the years, and thousands presently use these prescription devices in their homes.