ReviewNeurophotonics2016
Review of transcranial photobiomodulation for major depressive disorder: targeting brain metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurogenesis.
Review in Neurophotonics, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 5 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 77 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Transcranial Photobiomodulation Therapy for the Treatment of Autistic Traits in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Detailed Protocol: Evaluation of Transcranial Photobiomodulation for the Treatment of Pediatric Depression: An Open-Label Pilot Study
Evaluation of Transcranial Photobiomodulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Study of a Novel Approach
Physiological Effect of Non-invasive Photobiomodulation on Cognition and Mood in Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Impairment
Neurovascular and Mitochondrial Mechanisms of Transcranial Photobiomodulation in Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment
Who cites it
77 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 175 citations in OpenAlex.
- Transcranial photobiomodulation therapy in older women regarding cognitive functions: a systematic review.Lasers in medical science · 2025Pooled it
- Photobiomodulation improves depression symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Pooled it
- Improvements in clinical signs of Parkinson's disease using photobiomodulation: a prospective proof-of-concept study.BMC neurology · 2021Trial
- Transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM) With 1,064-nm Laser to Improve Cerebral Metabolism of the Human Brain In Vivo.Lasers in surgery and medicine · 2020Trial
- Effects of transcranial photobiomodulation with near-infrared light on sexual dysfunction.Lasers in surgery and medicine · 2019Trial
- A Review of the Molecular Evidence for Near-Infrared Light in Astrocyte-Mediated Neurorehabilitation.Molecular neurobiology · 2026Review
- Feasibility of Multi-Wavelength LED Irradiation on the Skull and Preliminary Glycemic Outcomes in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Pilot Study.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Saliva cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) response during physical and cognitive stress.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026Article
- Article
- Exploring Photobiomodulation as a Potential Novel Intervention for Developmental Stuttering: A Review and Hypothesis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Article
- Transcranial photobiomodulation with near-infrared laser induces analgesia in rats.The Journal of physiology · 2026Article
- The Effect of Transcranial Near-infrared Laser Therapy on Chronic Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Randomized, Single-blind, Sham-controlled Trial.Journal of the Saudi Heart Association · 2026Article
- A high-power near-infrared photobiomodulation device: design, fabrication, and primary impact on treatment-resistant depression.Lasers in medical science · 2025Article
- Simulation-based dosimetry of transcranial and intranasal photobiomodulation of the human brain: the roles of wavelength, power density, and skin tone.Biomedical optics express · 2025Article
- Meningeal lymphatic drainage: novel insights into central nervous system disease.Signal transduction and targeted therapy · 2025Review
- Transcranial photobiomodulation for reducing symptoms of autism spectrum disorder and modulating brain electrophysiology in children aged 2-7: an open label study.Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry · 2025Article
- Enhancing sleep, wakefulness, and cognition with transcranial photobiomodulation: a systematic review.Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience · 2025Review
- Non-invasive therapeutics for neurotrauma: a mechanistic overview.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Review
- Photobiomodulation: shining a light on depression.Theranostics · 2025Review
17 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
We examined the use of near-infrared and red radiation (photobiomodulation, PBM) for treating major depressive disorder (MDD). While still experimental, preliminary data on the use of PBM for brain disorders are promising. PBM is low-cost with potential for wide dissemination; further research on PBM is sorely needed. We found clinical and preclinical studies via PubMed search (2015), using the following keywords: "near-infrared radiation," "NIR," "low-level light therapy," "low-level laser therapy," or "LLLT" plus "depression." We chose clinically focused studies and excluded studies involving near-infrared spectroscopy. In addition, we used PubMed to find articles that examine the link between PBM and relevant biological processes including metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurogenesis. Studies suggest the processes aforementioned are potentially effective targets for PBM to treat depression. There is also clinical preliminary evidence suggesting the efficacy of PBM in treating MDD, and comorbid anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation, and traumatic brain injury. Based on the data collected to date, PBM appears to be a promising treatment for depression that is safe and well-tolerated. However, large randomized controlled trials are still needed to establish the safety and effectiveness of this new treatment for MDD.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.