Mood and daily function
Discuss how symptoms affect work, relationships, motivation, and self-care.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for mental health & depression
Mental health & depression research & care · Scottsdale & Glendale, AZ
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for mental health & depression
An informed treatment conversation starts with your diagnosis, your current support, and what you hope will change.
RX-O2 offers a physician-led conversation about the evidence, your diagnosis, and the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in your broader care plan. Our Scottsdale and Glendale teams serve patients across the Phoenix area.
Recent research reports improvements in depressive symptoms, including a 2026 sham-controlled study after stroke. We can help you explore this developing evidence in collaboration with your mental health care team.
Physician-led care in Scottsdale and Glendale, serving the Phoenix area.
Physician-ledIndividual assessment and treatment planning
FDA-cleared chambersMedical hard-shell hyperbaric equipment
100% medical oxygenDelivered through a mask or hood
NHSA-certified techniciansPreparation, monitoring, and communication
The starting point
The diagnosis behind mood symptoms matters
Studies may examine major depression, mood symptoms after stroke, or symptoms associated with other conditions. Those populations are not interchangeable.
Psychotherapy, prescribed medication, and coordinated mental health support should remain in place. Your clinician can help distinguish a promising research signal from evidence that changes routine care.
The clinical context matters. A post-stroke depression result should not be presented as proof for all depressive disorders. Changes in inflammatory markers also do not show that inflammation was the cause of a person’s depression.
Connect the research to your goals
What matters in daily life?
Sleep and participation
Identify sleep disruption and barriers to attending repeated treatment visits.
Continuity of care
Keep your mental health clinician involved in decisions and symptom monitoring.
Your goals help shape the conversation and provide a useful way to follow progress if treatment is prescribed.
Explore the evidence
Mental health & depression & HBOT research
Explore the findings behind the conversation. These selected publications highlight reported benefits, the patients studied, and the questions researchers are still working to answer.
Literature checked
October 20, 2026
2026 · Randomized, sham-controlled trial
A small sham-controlled post-stroke depression trial
Gong S, et al. Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association. 2026 Aug.
Read the publicationA 2026 trial of 61 patients reported greater improvement in depression scores after four weeks of HBOT than sham treatment. Inflammatory markers were also lower.
How to interpret it: This was a specific post-stroke population. Longer follow-up and replication are needed, and biomarker associations do not establish causation.
2026 · Systematic review and meta-analysis
A 2026 review found promising but variable effects
Al-Shamali HF, et al. Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences. 2026 Sep.
Read the publicationA review included 17 studies, with nine randomized trials contributing to its meta-analysis. Pooled depressive symptom findings favored HBOT in some comparisons, with substantial variability.
How to interpret it: Trials were generally small and results depended on the comparator. The review did not establish superiority over antidepressants, an optimal individual dose, or durable benefit.
What this means for your decision
Emerging studies offer encouraging signals for mood and daily well-being. Results vary by diagnosis and comparison treatment, and longer-term research is needed. A thoughtful next step is a conversation about your current care, personal goals, and whether an adjunctive hyperbaric assessment is appropriate.
Plan with your care team
Start with your diagnosis and a coordinated plan
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Share the relevant records
Bring your diagnosis, medication list, relevant neurologic history, and the contact details of clinicians you want involved in coordination.
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Agree on the purpose of treatment
Review the evidence with your treating specialist and hyperbaric clinician. Identify specific outcomes to follow, the alternatives, and the reasons HBOT may or may not be appropriate.
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Set reassessment points
If treatment is prescribed, discuss the schedule, travel, costs, safety screening, and how progress will be reviewed. A published study schedule does not determine an individual prescription.
Your consultation is an opportunity to ask about expected benefits, treatment experience, scheduling, costs, and follow-up. We review suitability with you and coordinate with your treating clinicians when appropriate.
The RX-O2 difference
A team and setting you can get to know
Medical oversight from the start
Medical Director Marvin A. Borsand, DO, FACOS, FACCS, HCC, leads clinical oversight. A licensed medical provider reviews suitability and prescribes treatment when appropriate.
Medical hyperbaric equipment
Our clinics use FDA-cleared hard-shell chambers. You breathe 100% medical oxygen through a mask or hood while the chamber is pressurized with air.
Preparation and communication
NHSA-certified hyperbaric technicians explain the visit and monitor treatment. Tell us about ear pressure, positioning, mobility, or confinement concerns before you arrive.
Before your visit
Mental health & depression FAQs
Which mood benefits are researchers studying?
Studies assess depressive symptoms, sleep, anxiety, and daily function. The most relevant findings depend on your diagnosis, including whether symptoms developed after a neurologic event such as stroke.
Do post-stroke findings apply to major depression?
Not automatically. Stroke recovery, medications, and neurologic changes may influence both symptoms and treatment response.
What if the chamber feels uncomfortable?
Tell the team about confinement anxiety or panic symptoms before scheduling. Discuss preparation, tolerance, and whether another approach is more suitable.
Where can I discuss this research near Phoenix?
RX-O2 has clinics in Scottsdale and Glendale. Bring your records or ask your provider to send a referral so that the team can review your circumstances and explain whether an outpatient consultation is appropriate.
Local care, two Valley locations
Explore HBOT in Scottsdale or Glendale
Looking for a hyperbaric consultation near Phoenix? RX-O2 offers two locations for patients across the Valley. Call the clinic closest to you for appointment availability and help planning repeat visits.
RX-O2 Scottsdale
9035 E Pima Center Parkway #11Scottsdale, AZ 85258
An East Valley option for patients in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and nearby communities.
RX-O2 Glendale
5626 N 51st AvenueGlendale, AZ 85301
A West Valley option for patients in Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, and nearby communities.
Take the next step toward a personalized plan
You do not have to interpret the research alone. Meet with our Scottsdale or Glendale team to discuss your goals, ask questions, and explore whether HBOT is right for you.
Sources & further reading
- Gong S, et al. Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association. 2026 Aug. A small sham-controlled post-stroke depression trial.
- Al-Shamali HF, et al. Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences. 2026 Sep. A 2026 review found promising but variable effects.
Browse the complete HBOT research library · Learn how HBOT works
Selected research checked October 20, 2026. Evidence continues to evolve. This educational overview supports a conversation with your treating clinician; individual results vary.
Read HBOT safety and treatment FAQs. Discuss treatment risks, medicines, implants, and relevant medical history with your clinician. Equipment clearance does not establish effectiveness for every condition.