Evidence map · PBM · major depressive disorder
PBM for major depressive disorder: what the research shows
Transcranial photobiomodulation for major depressive disorder. 129 papers from 2000 to 2026, including 2 meta-analyses, 5 systematic reviews and 27 randomised controlled trials. Each study below links to its source.
129Papers in the corpus
2Meta-analyses
27Randomised controlled trials
68Open-access papers
Study design
Jev labels36 papers have no confident study-design label yet. Labels are AI-classified by Jev: advisory, not clinician-reviewed.
Papers over time
by publication year* 2025–26 is still in progress, so its count is incomplete.
Most-cited trials and reviews
by citations- 1
Very Low-Level Transcranial Photobiomodulation for Major Depressive Disorder: The ELATED-3 Multicenter, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial.
- 2
Photobiomodulation for Major Depressive Disorder: Linking Transcranial Infrared Light, Biophotons and Oxidative Stress.
- 3
Dose-dependent effects of transcranial photobiomodulation on brain temperature in patients with major depressive disorder: a spectroscopy study.
- 4
Photobiomodulation improves depression symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- 5
Efficacy of Transcranial Photobiomodulation on Depressive Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis.
- 6
Neurometabolite Changes After Transcranial Photobiomodulation in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Dose-Dependent Effects.
- 7
Violet light photobiomodulation therapy for depression: A double-blind randomized crossover trial.
- 8
Non-implantable neuromodulation therapies compared to conventional treatments for major depression.
Recent trials and reviews
last 3 years- 1
Non-implantable neuromodulation therapies compared to conventional treatments for major depression.
- 2
Neurometabolite Changes After Transcranial Photobiomodulation in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Dose-Dependent Effects.
- 3
Violet light photobiomodulation therapy for depression: A double-blind randomized crossover trial.
- 4
Augmenting Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder With Transcranial Infrared Laser Stimulation
- 5
Dose-dependent effects of transcranial photobiomodulation on brain temperature in patients with major depressive disorder: a spectroscopy study.
Decision support only. This page summarises published literature; it is not medical advice or a recommendation for any patient. Study designs and topic labels are AI-classified by Jev: advisory, not clinician-reviewed. Abstracts are not reproduced here: follow the links to read each source. Data snapshot 2026-09-25.