A U.S. study has found that
treating clinically depressed patients with botox on the frown lines of
their faces actually got rid of their
depression. |
BEIJING, May
22 (Xinhuanet) -- A U.S. study has found that treating clinically depressed
patients with botox on the frown lines of their faces actually got rid of
their major depression.
The study was published in the Dermatologic
Surgery available Monday.
In the study, researchers selected ten patients who
had ongoing major depression despite drug and psychotherapeutic treatment. The
study was meant to evaluate the efficacy of Botulinim toxin A, an active
ingredient in Botox, when used on glabellar frown lines, on major
depression.
Major depression strikes an estimated 18 million of
Americans with at least five symptoms of depression including feeling sad,
hopeless, worthless, or pessimistic for at least two weeks.
The patients were evaluated with the Beck Depression
Inventory II (BDI-II) before receiving botox treatment on their frown lines.
Nine of ten depressed patients recovered from depression
two months after the Botox treatment, the researchers found. The tenth patient
also had some improvement in mood.
Researchers suggest that the therapeutic effect of Botox
is not due to the better looks the Butulinim toxin created that may make
patients feel better. Instead, major depression disappeared because the patients
could not frown after treatment.
Researchers agree the effects of Botox on depression
must be investigated in a much larger study before conclusions about a link can
be established, but a growing body of work suggests that changing expressions
can influence mood.
Alastair Carruthers, president-elect of the American
Society for Dermatologic Surgery, agreed the study provides new insight
into a phenomenon clinicians have noticed.
"Anyone who has injected much Botox into the frown area
has had people come in and say they can't believe how they feel better as a
result," said Carruthers, professor at the University of British
Columbia in Vancouver. "We've not really been able to put our fingers on why.
... We have been doing research based on appearance, but it may be due to some
mood-altering effect of Botox that we don't understand."
This study is the first to evaluate the effect of Botox on
major depression. The authors have submitted a patent application to protect the
treatment, according to the journal. Enditem
(Agencies)
