Infrared light treatment is effective for depression

This fascinating study recently performed by researchers at Harvard Medical School and MacLean Hospital and published in the journal Behavioral and Brain Functions shows that infrared light (like the kind we use here) when applied to the forehead can be effective for the treatment of depression. The authors explain:

"Many studies have reported beneficial effects from the application of near-infrared (NIR) light photobiomodulation (PBM) to the body...We sought to test whether a NIR treatment could 1. improve the psychological status of patients."

Treatments utilized 4 minutes of NIR light applied to each side of the forehead. They reported these surprising results:

"At 2-weeks post treatment 6 of 10 patients had a remission on the HAM-D [depression scale] and 7 of 10 achieved this on the HAM-A [anxiety scale]. Patients experienced highly significant reductions in both HAM-D and HAM-A scores following treatment, with the greatest reductions occurring at 2 weeks [after treatment]."

Interestingly, they obtained the best effects with treatment to the hemisphere (side of the forehead) associated with the least negative affect. Their conclusion:

"This small feasibility study suggests that NIR-PBM may have utility for the treatment of depression and other psychiatric disorders..."