Clinical Study

Near-Infrared Transcranial Radiation for Major Depressive Disorder: Proof of Concept Study

Table 1

Summary of the NIR parameters used for this study (Cassano et al.) and other comparison studies.

Cassano et al.
(this study)
Schiffer et al., 2009 [17] Barrett and Gonzalez-Lima, 2013 [13]Naeser et al., 2014 [15]

Study designPilot, openOpenDouble-blind
randomized
NIR versus sham
Open

Subjects enrolled4
MDD
completers
10
resistant MDD
40
psychology undergraduates
11
chronic TBI (8 cases with depression; 5 with at least moderate severity)

Number of treatment sessions2/week
for 3 weeks
113/week
for 6 weeks

Duration of clinical follow-up8 weeks4 weeks2 weeks14 weeks

Clinical outcome(s)50% remission of MDD at weeks
6-7 
(HAM-D17 ≤7)
60% remission of MDD at week
2 (HAM-D-21 <10)
Maintained positive affect at 2 weeks compared to decline of control group (PANAS)37% response of depression at week 7 (decrease of BDI-II total score ≥50% from baseline)

Device specifications
 Manufacturer/model/typePhotoThera/NeuroThera/laser diodeCustom device/Marubeni America Corp./LEDCell Gen Therapeutics/Model CG-5000/laser diodeMedX Health/Model 1100/LED
 Wavelength (nm)8088101064870 and 633
 Spot diameter (cm)345.35
 Spot area (cm2)7.1~112.622.5

Site exposure parameters
 Time (sec)120240240585
 Irradiance (mW/cm2) 70025025022.2
 Fluence (J/cm2)84606013

Treatment exposure parameters
 Number of exposed sitesFourTwoTwoEleven
 Site locations, transcranial treatmentsBilateral (R and L forehead center at 20 and 40 mm from sagittal line) Bilateral (R and L forehead at EEG map sites: F3, F4)Unilateral (R, frontal pole on 4 cm medial and lateral)Midline and bilateral (forehead (prefrontal) and temporal, parietal, and occipital area)
 Total area exposed (“treatment window,” cm2)28.4 (7.1 × 4 sites)2 (1 × 2 sites)25.2 (12.6 × 2 sites)247 (22.5 × 11 sites)
 Total energy delivered, per session (kJ)2.4 (0.6 × 4 sites)0.12 (0.06 × 2 sites)1.51 (0.76 × 2 sites)3.21 (0.29 × 11 sites)
 Total energy delivered, per treatment (kJ)14.4 (total energy per session ×
2 sessions/week ×
3 weeks)
0.12 (total energy per session × 1 session)1.51 (total energy per session × 1 session)57.87 (total energy per session × 3 sessions/week × 6 weeks)