Hyperbaric Oxygen Can Help with Depression

At Bay Area Hyperbarics, we have treated multiple patients with depression. Most patients with depression come to us with a history that includes concussions, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), post concussive syndrome or other injuries, such as radiation damage.

Many patients with depression who have been referred to us also present other conditions. They often have a history of head injuries, most often from car accidents, but also sports injuries, falls, and multiple surgeries with anesthesia. Numerous studies show that even a whiplash can shake the brain in the skull and cause trauma. The brain injury causing such depression can be treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. At times. other symptoms appear in combination with the depression, including anxiety, headaches, cognitive issues, psychosocial disability or psychiatric symptoms. When depression occurs with these other symptoms, some providers consider the depression a result of physical disorders, rather than mental disorders. The depression often resolves significantly or completely when treated with a head injury protocol that includes hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Patients who are medicated should also be closely supervised. Medications often need to be reduced or discontinued as patients’ brains heal.

Read our articles about HBOT and concussions, post concussive syndrome and traumatic brain injury. If you are concerned for yourself or a loved one, call us to find out if HBOT will help.