Green Light Therapy for Pain and Pain-Related Psychosocial Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Human Studies
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Pain and psychosocial distress are highly prevalent across acute and chronic medical conditions and may negatively affect quality of life, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes. Green light therapy has emerged as a non-pharmacological intervention that may modulate neural, inflammatory, and sensory pathways involved in nociception and affective processing. This systematic review evaluated the current human evidence on green light therapy for pain, with consideration of pain-related psychosocial outcomes. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycINFO for English-language human interventional studies of green light therapy reporting pain. Records were screened in Covidence by independent reviewers using predefined eligibility criteria. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool for randomized studies and Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) for non-randomized studies. Certainty of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Results: Of 2040 citations identified, 13 studies met inclusion criteria (9 randomized controlled trials, 4 non-randomized studies; 668 participants). Clinical populations included migraine, dental anxiety, fibromyalgia, autism spectrum disorder, and retinal examination discomfort. Most studies…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 668 participants or records.
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