Low-level laser therapy for patients with astheno-depressive syndrome

Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate the efficiency of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with laser light in the infrared spectral range as compared to traditional pharmacotherapy for treating patients with astheno-depressive syndrome (ADS) and to work out recommendations for its application. Materials and methods. Patients with ADS from a psychiatry clinic of Rostov State Medical University were taken into the study. They were divided into three groups. In Group I (n - 30) patients had only endonasal laser therapy. In Group 2 (n - 70) laser therapy was prescribed to patients when antidepressant therapy had no effect. During laser therapy no drugs were prescribed. In Group 3 (n - 30) patients received sham LLLT. The effectiveness of treatment was assessed psychophysiologically, electrophysiologically and biochemically (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, EEG, rheoencephalography, DNA cytophotometry of lymphocyte nuclei). Examination was done before and after the treatment. Conclusion. The best results were seen in Group 1 (76.7%), especially in young people with a short duration of the disease (1-5 years). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is an informative and easy-operating instrument for assessing results of treatment. The applied laser therapy technique has no side effects.