Published Studies
Anxiety and Depression
Recurrent depression and anxiety can be resistant to monotherapies, including psychotherapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Over a 12-week tPBM protocol, participants reported improvements in sleep quality, irritability, and depression scores, though anxiety outcomes varied across measures. These preliminary findings suggest that tPBM may offer supportive benefits alongside conventional treatments.
Methods
Sample Size:
3 adult female participants with chronic anxiety and depression.
Metrics & Measurement Tools:
- GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) for anxiety severity
- DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21) for depression, anxiety, and stress
- Cognifit cognitive testing for neurocognitive performance
- Semi-structured participant feedback collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.
Results
Depression Outcomes:
All participants showed reductions in DASS-21 depression scores after treatment.
Anxiety and Stress:
Changes in GAD-7 anxiety and DASS-21 anxiety/stress scores varied among participants.
Secondary Outcomes:
Two participants reported improved sleep quality and reduced irritability; one participant reported no perceived benefit despite objective improvement.
Conclusion
tPBM may be a beneficial adjunctive therapy for anxiety and depression in patients already receiving psychotherapy, EMDR, and/or SSRI treatment, though larger controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings
