This eye opening study was a clinical trial to see if LED Light Therapy via Transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM) could help patients with Opioid Addiction who are also dealing with anxiety, depression, and opioid cravings.
PubMed Reference (2,536 words): 810nm Opioid Addition Treatment
Study Design and Participants
- Participants: The study included 70 patients in total. All patients were undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), which is a common way to manage opioid addiction.
- Demographics: The patients were mostly male (91.4%) with a small percentage of females (8.6%). Aged 18-60 with an average age of about 38 to 39 years old. No information on race was provided in the study.
- Diagnosis: All participants were substance-dependent patients who had been on MMT for at least three months.
- Other Interventions: The patients were already on methadone for their treatment, and no other medications were allowed during the study. The study was a double-blind, randomised, controlled trial, which is a scientific method where participants are randomly placed into one of two groups (a treatment group and a control group). This is done to prevent bias from affecting the results.
The Light Therapy Details
- Device Used: The therapy used Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
- Light Parameters: The light had a wavelength of 810nm. A wavelength is the “colour” of the light, and 810nm is a type of near-infrared light that can pass through the skin and skull to reach the brain.
- The irradiance, or power intensity, was 250 mW/cm². This is how much energy the light was delivering to a specific spot.
- The total light energy delivered, known as the Fluence, was 60 J/cm 2 . A Joule (J) is a unit of energy, so this number tells you the total dose of light the patients received. When replicating studies at-home or in clinics, people will often focus on the Fluence/Joules to determine their treatment time (rather than focusing on the Irradiance).
Treatment Plan
- Duration: Each session of light exposure lasted 4 minutes.
- Frequency: Patients in the treatment group attended nine total sessions.
- Positioning: The light was placed on both forehead locations.
Before and After Results
- Initial State: Before the study began, there were no significant differences in anxiety, depression, or opioid craving scores between the two groups. This is a good sign that the groups were well-matched.
- Post-Treatment Results: The group that received the 810nm LED light therapy had a statistically significant improvement in all of their scores compared to the control group. Here are the specific numbers:
- Long-Term Effect: 810nm LED light therapy was found to be effective for all three conditions, showing significant improvements in anxiety/52%, depression/50%, and opioid cravings/61% in the patients studied, and stayed low at the one-month and three-month checkups, which suggests a lasting positive effect from the therapy.
10 FAQs: 810nm Light Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, and Cravings in Opioid Addiction
Can 810nm Light Therapy Help With Anxiety In Patients With Opioid Addiction?
Yes, the 810nm LED Light Therapy was found to help with anxiety in patients with opioid addiction. Their anxiety scores improved significantly from an average of 21.00 at the start of the study to 10.07 after three months.
What Were The Results Of The 810nm Brain Treatment On Depression In Patients With Opioid Addiction?
The Transcranial Photobiomodulation/Brain light therapy treatment resulted in a significant reduction in feelings of depression in patients with opioid addiction. Their depression scores dropped from an average of 19.64 to 9.82 after three months.
Did 810nm LED Light Therapy Placed On The Head/Brain Reduce Opioid Cravings?
Yes, the 810n light therapy that was placed on the head to signal to the brain was effective at reducing opioid cravings. The treatment group’s craving scores dropped from an average of 22.42 to just 8.84 after three months of treatment.
How Did 810nm Light Therapy Treatment With Near Infrared Light Reduce Anxiety And Depression?
The 810nm light therapy treatment is believed to help reduce anxiety and depression by sending near infrared light to the brain. This type of light can help brain cells produce more energy and assist to balance certain brain chemicals.
Does 60 J/cm² 810nm Light Therapy Treatment Session Help With Anxiety In Methadone Patients?
Yes, the study showed that a 810nm, 60 J/cm² treatment session with LED light therapy was effective in helping to improve anxiety scores in patients with opioid addiction, with their scores dropping from 21.00 to 10.07 over three months.
How Long Does positive Effects Of 810nm Light Therapy Last For Depression?
The positive effects of 810nm LED light therapy on depression were long-lasting, with the benefits being sustained for at least three months after the treatment ended.
Is 810nm Light Therapy Effective For Opioid Cravings, Anxiety and Depression?
Yes, 810nm LED light therapy was found to be effective for all three conditions, showing significant improvements in anxiety 52%, depression 50%, and opioid cravings 61% in the patients studied.
What Is The Benefit Of Putting 810nm Near Infrared Light On The Head?
The benefit of putting 810nm LED light on the forehead is that this specific wavelength can pass through the skull and reach the brain to help improve how brain cells work and to have a therapeutic effect.
Did The Participants In The Study Use Any Other Methods To Help With Their Opioid Cravings?
The participants in the study were not allowed to use any treatments aside from their methadone, so the improvements in opioid cravings were a direct result of the tPBM 810nm LED light therapy and not other interventions.
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