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NEUROTHERAPY FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION: RESEARCH

Research shows that neurotherapy may significantly reduce symptoms, improve emotional stability, and enhance overall well-being by targeting the brainwave imbalances associated with anxiety and depression.  At Transformative Neurotherapy, we welcome curiosity and invite those who want to dig deeper to explore the research behind our methods, including Neurostimulation, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field(pEMF), and Photobiomodulation (PBM) — all grounded in science that supports their effectiveness in improving mental health.

    • Chalah, M. A., & Ayache, S. S. (2019). Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Psychotherapy in Anxiety and Depressive Disorders: A Viewpoint. Brain Sciences, 9(4), 82. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci9040082

    • Clancy KJ, Baisley SK, Albizu A, Kartvelishvili N, Ding M, Li W. Lasting connectivity increase and anxiety reduction via transcranial alternating current stimulation. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2018 Dec 4;13(12):1305-1316. doi: 10.1093/scan/nsy096 PMID: 30380131; PMCID: PMC6277743.

    • Fanselow MS. Fear and anxiety take a double hit from vagal nerve stimulation. Biol Psychiatry. 2013 Jun 1;73(11):1043-4. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.03.025. PMID: 23647735; PMCID: PMC4176918.

    • Lee, T.-W., Li, C.-S. R., & Tramontano, G. (2024). Tripod transcranial alternating current stimulation at 5-Hz to alleviate anxiety symptoms: A preliminary report. Journal of Affective Disorders, 360, 156–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.166

    • Lee, T.-W., & Tramontano, G. (2024). Neural consequences of 5-Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation over right hemisphere: An eLORETA EEG study. Neuroscience Letters, 835, 137849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137849

    • McAleer J, Stewart L, Shepard R, Sheena M, Stange JP, Leow A, Klumpp H, Ajilore O. Neuromodulatory effects of transcranial electrical stimulation on emotion regulation in internalizing psychopathologies. Clin Neurophysiol. 2023 Jan;145:62-70. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.10.015. Epub 2022 Nov 11. PMID: 36442377; PMCID: PMC9772290.

    • Shivaswamy T, Souza RR, Engineer CT, McIntyre CK. Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Treatment for Fear and Anxiety in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Psychiatr Brain Sci. 2022;7(4):e220007. doi: 10.20900/jpbs.20220007. Epub 2022 Sep 23. PMID: 36303861; PMCID: PMC9600938.

    • Stein DJ, Fernandes Medeiros L, Caumo W, Torres IL. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Patients with Anxiety: Current Perspectives. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2020 Jan 14;16:161-169. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S195840. PMID: 32021208; PMCID: PMC6969693.

    • Vicario, C. M., Salehinejad, M. A., Felmingham, K., Martino, G., & Nitsche, M. A. (2019). A systematic review on the therapeutic effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 96, 219–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.12.012

    • Borges B, Hosek R and Esposito S (2019). Effects of PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) stimulation on chronic pain and anxiety utilizing decreased treatment frequency and duration application. Front. Neurol. Conference Abstract: International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/conf.fneur.2019.62.00007

    • Borges B and Esposito S (2019). Effects of PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic fields) treatment on a 68-year-old female with moderate anxiety, chronic neck and low back pain and small vessel ischemia.. Front. Neurol. Conference Abstract: International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/conf.fneur.2019.62.00023

    • Hattapoğlu E, Batmaz İ, Dilek B, Karakoç M, Em S, Çevik R. Efficiency of pulsed electromagnetic fields on pain, disability, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients with cervical disc herniation: a randomized controlled study. Turk J Med Sci. 2019 Aug 8;49(4):1095-1101. doi: 10.3906/sag-1901-65. PMID: 31385489; PMCID: PMC7018371.

    • Pawluk, W. (2020). PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) Devices in the Care and Management of Neurological Disorders. Townsend Letter, (447), 14-20. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A637653475/HRCA?u=anon~b8b73f29&sid=googleScholar&xid=49162e23

    • Maiello M, Losiewicz OM, Bui E, Spera V, Hamblin MR, Marques L, Cassano P. Transcranial Photobiomodulation with Near-Infrared Light for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Pilot Study. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019 Oct;37(10):644-650. doi: 10.1089/photob.2019.4677. PMID: 31647775; PMCID: PMC6818480.

ANXIETY

    • Akhtar H, Bukhari F, Nazir M, Anwar MN, Shahzad A. Therapeutic Efficacy of Neurostimulation for Depression: Techniques, Current Modalities, and Future Challenges. Neurosci Bull. 2016 Feb;32(1):115-26. doi: 10.1007/s12264-015-0009-2. Epub 2016 Jan 19. PMID: 26781880; PMCID: PMC5563754.

    • Alexander, M.L., Alagapan, S., Lugo, C.E. et al. Double-blind, randomized pilot clinical trial targeting alpha oscillations with transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Transl Psychiatry 9, 106 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-019-0439-0

    • Chalah, M. A., & Ayache, S. S. (2019). Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Psychotherapy in Anxiety and Depressive Disorders: A Viewpoint. Brain Sciences, 9(4), 82. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci9040082

    • Conway CR, Aaronson ST, Sackeim HA, George MS, Zajecka J, Bunker MT, Duffy W, Stedman M, Riva-Posse P, Allen RM, Quevedo J, Berger M, Alva G, Malik MA, Dunner DL, Cichowicz I, Banov M, Manu L, Nahas Z, Macaluso M, Mickey BJ, Sheline Y, Kriedt CL, Lee YC, Gordon C, Shy O, Tran Q, Yates L, Rush AJ. Vagus nerve stimulation in treatment-resistant depression: A one-year, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Brain Stimulation. Dec. 18, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.12.1191

    • Dunlop K, Hanlon CA, Downar J. Noninvasive brain stimulation treatments for addiction and major depression. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017 Apr;1394(1):31-54. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12985. Epub 2016 Feb 5. PMID: 26849183; PMCID: PMC5434820.

    • Rush AJ, Conway CR, Aaronson ST, George MS, Riva-Posse P, Dunner DL, Zajecka J, Bunker MT, Quevedo J, Allen RM, Alva G, Luing H, Nahas Z, Manu L, Bennett JI, Mickey BJ, Becker J, Sheline Y, Cusin C, Murrough JW, Reeves K, Rosenquist PB, Lee YC, Majewski S, Way J, Olin B, Sackeim HA. Effects of vagus nerve stimulation on daily function and quality of life in markedly treatment-resistant major depression: Findings from a one-year, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Brain Stimulation. Dec. 18, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.12.1187

    • Wang Y. Transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of major depressive disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychiatry Res. 2019 Jun;276:186-190. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.05.012. Epub 2019 May 7. PMID: 31100509.

      Welch, E. S., Weigand, A., Hooker, J. E., Philip, N. S., Tyrka, A. R., Press, D. Z., Carpenter, L. L. (2018). Feasibility of Computerized Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Combined With Bifrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Treatment of Major Depression. Neuromodulation. Doi: 10.1111/near.12807

    • Hattapoğlu E, Batmaz İ, Dilek B, Karakoç M, Em S, Çevik R. Efficiency of pulsed electromagnetic fields on pain, disability, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients with cervical disc herniation: a randomized controlled study. Turk J Med Sci. 2019 Aug 8;49(4):1095-1101. doi: 10.3906/sag-1901-65. PMID: 31385489; PMCID: PMC7018371.

    • Larsen ER, Licht RW, Nielsen RE, Lolk A, Borck B, Sørensen C, Christensen EM, Bizik G, Ravn J, Martiny K, Vinberg M, Jankuviené O, Jørgensen PB, Videbech P, Bech P. Transcranial pulsed electromagnetic fields for treatment-resistant depression: A multicenter 8-week single-arm cohort study. Eur Psychiatry. 2020 Feb 18;63(1):e18. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.3. PMID: 32093804; PMCID: PMC7315871.

    • Pawluk, W. (2020). PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) Devices in the Care and Management of Neurological Disorders. Townsend Letter, (447), 14-20. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A637653475/HRCA?u=anon~b8b73f29&sid=googleScholar&xid=49162e23

    • Wang, L., Mao, L., Huang, Z., Switzer, J.A., Hess, D.C., Zhang, Q. (2025). Photobiomodulation: shining a light on depression. Theranostics, 15(2), 362-383. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.104502.

DEPRESSION

What Neurotherapy treatments does Transformative Neurotherapy offer?

“Neurotherapy” or “Neuromodulation” is a broad term for a number of different types of treatment options. We’ve outlined below what Transformative Neurotherapy does and does not currently offer.

Table comparing types of neurotherapy and their offering status by transformative neurotherapy, with check marks, crosses, and stars indicating availability.