Liposuction and Plastic Surgery Information - Botox used to treat clinical depression

Botox used to treat clinical depression

Wednesday, 20 September 2006

A recent study indicates that Botox may have a secondary use - treatment of depression. In a study conducted by dermatologist, Dr. Eric Finzi, from the Chevy Chase Cosmetic Center in Maryland, 90% of patients in the trial had their depression treated successfully by botox treatments.

Up to 25% of women will develop a major depressive condition at some point in their lives, and the condition may not be treatable by pharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches. The theory behind this study is that the facial expression of emotion may pay a causal role in the experience of emotion. In other words, if you frown, you're more likely to make yourself feel unhappy.

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.

Tags: botox, depression,