| Botox used to treat clinical depression |
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| Wednesday, 20 September 2006 | |
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Using this theory as a starting point, researchers conducted a small pilot trial to determine whether external influences that inhibit the facial expression of frowning could help alleviate the symptoms of depression. The external influence chosen to inhibit facial frowning for the purpose of the study was Botox. Ten patients were treated with Botox (botulinum toxin A) by having it injected into the area of face responsible for frowning - the glabellar frown lines. Of the ten patients in the pilot trial, nine were diagnosed as suffering from unipolar depression, while the other patient suffered from bipolar disorder. Two months after the initial Botox treatment, these patients were re-clinically evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory II. Of the ten patients, nine were no longer depressed and one patient remained depressed, but admitted experiencing an improvement in mood. The nine patients who were no longer depressed had all suffered from unipolar syndrome, while the patient who was still depressed was suffering from bipolar syndrome. Dr. Finzi described the initial results from the Botox study as promising, but believes a larger study with more patients is still needed. In the interim, he has applied for a patent using botulinum A to treat depression. |
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