Photobiomodulation: An Emerging Treatment Modality for Depression

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is considered a global crisis. Conventional treatments for MDD consist of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, although a significant number of patients with depression respond poorly to conventional treatments and are diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Transcranial photobiomodulation (t-PBM) therapy uses near-infrared light, delivered transcranially, to modulate the brain cortex. The aim of this review was to revisit the antidepressant effects of t-PBM, with a special emphasis on individuals with TRD. A search on PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov tracked clinical studies using t-PBM for the treatment of patients diagnosed with MDD and TRD.