Transcranial Photobiomodulation with Near-Infrared Light for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Pilot Study

• Published in: Photobiomodulation, photomedicine, and laser surgery Vol. 37; no. 10; p. 644
• Main Authors: Maiello, Marco, Losiewicz, Olivia M, Bui, Eric, Spera, Vincenza, Hamblin, Michael R, Marques, Luana, Cassano, Paolo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - therapy; Brain - radiation effects; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infrared Rays - therapeutic use; Low-Level Light Therapy - methods; Male; Patient Safety; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Factors; Skull - radiation effects; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; neuromodulation; photobiomodulation; near-infrared; generalized anxiety disorder; transcranial; NIR; low-level light therapy; LLLT
• ISSN: 2578-5478
• DOI: 10.1089/photob.2019.4677

Our aim was to test the anxiolytic effect of transcranial photobiomodulation (t-PBM) with near-infrared light (NIR) in subjects suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). t-PBM with NIR is an experimental, noninvasive treatment for mood and anxiety disorders. Preliminary evidence indicates a potential anxiolytic effect of transcranial NIR. Fifteen subjects suffering from GAD were recruited in an open-label 8-week study. Each participant self-administered t-PBM daily, for 20 min (continuous wave; 830 nm peak wavelength; average irradiance 30 mW/cm ; average fluence 36 J/cm ; total energy delivered per session 2.9 kJ: total output power 2.4 W) broadly on the forehead (total area 80 cm ) with an LED-cluster headband (Cerebral Sciences). Outcome measures were the reduction in total scores of the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (SIGH-A), the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) subscale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) subscales from baseline to last observation carried forward. Of the 15 recruited subjects (mean age 30 ± 14 years; 67% women), 12 (80%) completed the open trial. Results show a significant reduction in the total scores of SIGH-A (from 17.27 ± 4.89 to 8.47 ± 4.87;  < 0.001; Cohen's effect size = 1.47), in the CGI-S subscale (from 4.53 ± 0.52 to 2.87 ± 0.83;  < 0.001; Cohen's effect size = 2.04), as well as significant improvements in sleep at the PSQI. t-PBM was well tolerated with no serious adverse events. Based on our pilot study, t-PBM with NIR is a promising alternative treatment for GAD. Larger, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled studies are needed.