Photobiomodulation as a promising new tool in the management of psychological disorders: A systematic review

Photobiomodulation, Depression, Anxiety, and Cognition

“…This suggested that the procedure might prove to be a useful form of prophylactic therapy in the elderly population, who are commonly affected by age associated vascular and cognitive alterations often found in cases with chronic depression and as supported by Gutie rrez-Mene ndez et al [45]. It may also enhance excitatory synaptic transmission [50], despite the presence of any already apparently compromised integrity of the frontal-limbic networks implicated in depression, as well as frequent observations of volumetric hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, striatum, and amygdale reductions, as well as compromised white matter integrity [51], and the favorable effects can potentially be sustained with bilateral prefrontal sited applications delivered intermittently over time [45].…”

“…This review discusses findings concerning the possible role of photobiomodulation, a form of light therapy that utilizes non-ionizing light sources, including lasers, light emitting diodes, or broadband light to treat brain tissues, while providing a safe means of modulating brain activity without any irreversible damage in this regard [48]. According to Gutie rrez-Mene ndez et al [45] and an increasing number of researchers [16], depressive symptoms and others [7]. Figure 1 Older adults were the specific focus in this review, given the high prevalence rates of mood disorders in this group, including those with Alzheimer's disease [47], which may worsen with unrelieved albeit preventable depression symptoms.…”

“…A high number of depressed older adults with memory loss may not be amenable to psychotherapy or alternate mainstream forms of therapy, such as exercise. As well, as opposed to pharmacotherapy, which may only have a limited impact in severe cases, Disner et al [24] note low-level light therapy with transcranial laser is a non-invasive form of therapy that can be applied selectively to the prefrontal lobe to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms through its ability to foster a state of potentially sustainable neuro enhancement [45]. Additional research further shows features of depression, including impaired neuronal metabolism, chronic pain, and various degrees of cognition, may indeed be modified favorably by this approach.…”

“…As well, the role of TPBM as an adjunctive therapeutic tool should be examined. In the interim, since many current intervention approaches, it appears that subject to careful patient evaluation concerning the nature and etiology of any prevailing chronic mood disturbances, the carefully construed and monitored application of TPBM can be expected to safely reduce feelings of excess anxiety [56] and depression [45] to some degree, with minimal risk, regardless of age and extent of the severity of one or more mood disturbances. To shed more light on the potential for TPBM and its implications on health status as a whole, testing whether such an application yield important parallel improvements in parameters related to the function of the musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems, plus the immune system will be valuable.…”

“…The application of the TPBM is hence not only a promising approach for the treatment of a wide range of utility [7,10,16,[43][44][45].…”