Introduction: Psychiatric disorders are mental health conditions characterized by behavioral or cognitive patterns that lead to significant distress or functional impairment. Among these, depression is a prevalent and debilitating disorder, posing a major challenge to global health. Various treatment approaches have been developed, with light-based therapies, including phototherapy and low-level laser therapy (LLLT), emerging as promising interventions.
Methods: This review systematically examines studies published over the past decade retrieved from databases such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Elsevier. The article highlights the clinical features of depression and evaluates different therapeutic strategies, emphasizing the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of light and laser therapy.
Results: Evidence suggests that LLLT may modulate neurobiological pathways associated with depressive symptoms, providing a potential non-invasive treatment option.
Conclusions: This review aims to provide an integrated understanding of the therapeutic potential of phototherapy and low-level laser interventions in depression management, offering insights for future research and clinical applications.