Transcranial Photobiomodulation Therapy for Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Depression or Induced by Antidepressants

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anacleta
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Transcranial Photobiomodulation Therapy for Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Depression or Induced by Antidepressants

Unread post by anacleta »

Transcranial Photobiomodulation Therapy for Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Depression or Induced by Antidepressant Medications

Farzad Salehpour 1,2 , Mahsa Khademi 3 , Farzan Vahedifard 4 and Paolo Cassano 5,6,7,8,*

1 College for Light Medicine and Photobiomodulation, D-82319 Starnberg, Germany;
fsalehpour@proneurolight.com
2 ProNeuroLIGHT LLC, Phoenix, AZ 85083, USA
3 Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 51666, Iran;
drmahsakhademi@gmail.com
4 Division of Neuroradiology, Rush University, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; farzan_vahedifard@rush.edu
5 Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02110, USA
6 Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neuropsychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02110, USA
7 Depression Clinical and Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital,
Boston, MA 02110, USA
8 Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General
Hospital, Boston, MA 02110, USA
* Correspondence: pcassano@mgh.harvard.edu; Tel.: +1-617-643-9622

Abstract: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is frequently encountered in patients suffering from depression.
There is a bidirectional relationship between various types of SD and depression, so the presence or
treatment of one condition may exacerbate or improve the other condition. The most frequent sexual
problem in untreated depressed patients is declining sexual desire, while in treated depressed patients
it is difficulties with erection/ejaculation and with orgasm. Numerous classes of neuropsychiatric
medications, commonly used in depressed patients—such as antidepressant, antipsychotic, alpha
sympathetic, and opioid drugs—may cause SD. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, also called lowlevel
light/laser therapy, is a novel neuromodulation technique for neuropsychiatric conditions, such
as depression. Transcranial PBM (tPBM) targets the cellular metabolism—through the mitochondrial
respiratory enzyme, cytochrome c oxidase—and has numerous cellular and physiological beneficial
effects on the central nervous system. This paper represents a comprehensive review of the application
of tPBM to SD, coexisting with depression or induced by antidepressant medications.

Part on PSSD:

Interestingly, the sexual side effects of antidepressants could also improve with local
PBM (laser) on sex organs. In a case report of paroxetine-induced persistent penile anesthesia,
local PBM successfully reversed this side-effect. Pathophysiologically, SSRIs may
interfere with the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels of mechano-, thermo-,
and chemo-sensitive nerve endings, leading to penile anesthesia. The patient carried a
diagnosis of depressive disorder and was treated with 20 mg/day of paroxetine. After
only one week, he developed penile anesthesia, scrotum hypoesthesia, anejaculation, and
erectile difficulties, while maintaining normal sexual desire. His genital and sexual complaints
persisted during the 2.5 years of treatment with paroxetine, and for the 2 years
after paroxetine discontinuation. The authors of this case report describe that, after a single
session (about 15–20 min) of local PBM, penile touch and temperature sensations increased
until glans penis sensitivity returned [90].

As concerns the main focus of this review, transcranial PBM, two different hypotheses
could be proposed for the beneficial effects of NIR tPBM on SD: its effect could be mediated
(i) by neurostimulation of the PFC and subsequent modulation of cortical oscillations [91]
and (ii) by an increase in the levels of tissue NO and subsequent boost of CBF [92]. In
fact, neuronal, intra-, or extra-cellular NO in the hypothalamus has been suggested to be
essential to the onset of puberty and to fertility, and it can directly regulate the release of
GnRH and LH [93].


Full text direct link https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... VSQy_rsftz



the case of pssd mentioned here is Waldinger's case from a few years ago (Waldinger unfortunately died). in that case a type of local laser treatment was done with an improvement in the symptom of genital anaesthesia.

in this paper, on the other hand, a type of transcranial laser treatment is proposed to alleviate symptoms of sexual dysfunction due to depression or antidepressant treatment, depression itself and depressive symptoms such as anhedonia.

I think the attempt might be worthwhile?
dog_lover
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Re: Transcranial Photobiomodulation Therapy for Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Depression or Induced by Antidepressa

Unread post by dog_lover »

this looks great. PBM (and sunlight) are promising for so many conditions. thank you for sharing
Brain food
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Re: Transcranial Photobiomodulation Therapy for Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Depression or Induced by Antidepressa

Unread post by Brain food »

dog_lover wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 2:03 pm this looks great. PBM (and sunlight) are promising for so many conditions. thank you for sharing
There was actually a scientific study published a year ago that showed sunlight increases libido in normal mice and humans but not in mice that have been genetically modified to lack the p53 protein in the skin. See link below:

Hot and heavy: Protein turns sun into sex drive, Israeli study finds

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hot-and-h ... finds/amp/
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