Open AccessTranscranial Photobiomodulation with Near-Infrared Light for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Pilot Study
Author(s) -
Marco Maiello,
Olivia M Losiewicz,
Éric Bui,
Vincenza Spera,
Michael R. Hamblin,
Luana Marques,
Paolo Cassano
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
photobiomodulation, photomedicine, and laser surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.319
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2578-5478
DOI - 10.1089/photob.2019.4677
Subject(s) - pittsburgh sleep quality index , anxiety , clinical global impression , mood , transcranial magnetic stimulation , medicine , anxiolytic , generalized anxiety disorder , psychology , sleep quality , psychiatry , cognition , alternative medicine , pathology , stimulation , placebo
Objective: 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). Background: t-PBM with NIR is an experimental, noninvasive treatment for mood and anxiety disorders. Preliminary evidence indicates a potential anxiolytic effect of transcranial NIR. Methods: 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 2 ; average fluence 36 J/cm 2 ; total energy delivered per session 2.9 kJ: total output power 2.4 W) broadly on the forehead (total area 80 cm 2 ) 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. Results: 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; p < 0.001; Cohen's d effect size = 1.47), in the CGI-S subscale (from 4.53 ± 0.52 to 2.87 ± 0.83; p < 0.001; Cohen's d effect size = 2.04), as well as significant improvements in sleep at the PSQI. t-PBM was well tolerated with no serious adverse events. Conclusions: 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.