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Evidence by topic

How has photobiomodulation been studied in depression?

5 papers. Randomized human trials: 1. Human observational studies without a separate control group: 1. Reviews and meta analyses: 2. Animal studies: 1.

First published from January 1 to October 29, 2026. All title and abstract search results in this period were screened.

Checked 2026-10-29 · 17 records searched

Randomized human trials1

  1. Thirty one adults with major depressive disorder received randomly assigned sham and three doses of 808 nm PBM during weekly MRI sessions. Blood oxygenation signals were measured before, during and after exposure; depression scales were also assessed.

    Brain Stimul · 2026 · PMID 42595101

    DOI 10.1016/j.brs.2026.103185Record and abstractFree full text

Human observational studies without a separate control group1

  1. Twenty nine adult outpatients with persistent depressive symptoms used an 810 nm LED helmet for 20 minutes, three times weekly for four weeks. This open single arm study recorded depression scales; 22 participants completed the course.

    Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg · 2026 · PMID 42231103

    DOI 10.1177/25785478261456433Record and abstract

Reviews and meta analyses2

  1. A review synthesized 31 randomized trials of nonpharmacological, nonpsychological adjuncts in adults with unipolar depression, including PBM, neurostimulation and exercise. Total participants and the PBM specific trial count are not reported in the abstract.

    Australas Psychiatry · 2026 · PMID 42281452

    DOI 10.1177/10398562261457054Record and abstract

  2. An expert review used a nonsystematic PubMed search to examine PBM and other neurostimulation approaches for persistent depression. It reviewed stimulation methods and study designs; paper counts and sample sizes are not reported in the abstract.

    Expert Rev Med Devices · 2026 · PMID 42750650

    DOI 10.1080/17434440.2026.2717170Record and abstract

Animal studies1

  1. Male Wistar rats underwent five weeks of chronic mild stress followed by 600 nm, 840 nm or sham PBM. Sucrose consumption and brain and blood oxidative markers were measured; animal numbers are not reported in the abstract.

    Neurochem Res · 2026 · PMID 41721935

    DOI 10.1007/s11064-026-04681-2Record and abstractFree full text

Excluded 12 of 17 records: studies or reviews centered on other conditions or multiple brain disorders (10), conference record without an abstract (1), study protocol (1).

View the search query

(TITLE_ABS:photobiomodulation OR TITLE_ABS:"low level light" OR TITLE_ABS:"low level laser") AND (TITLE_ABS:depression OR TITLE_ABS:depressive) AND (SRC:MED OR SRC:PMC) AND FIRST_PDATE:[2026-01-01 TO 2026-10-29]

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Frequently asked questions

How large was the randomized human study?

The major depression MRI study in this list included 31 people.

Did the helmet study have a control group?

The helmet study enrolling 29 people was a single arm study without a separate control group.

What did the animal study measure?

It measured sucrose consumption and oxidative markers in the brain and blood of rats exposed to stress.