Can Botox replace Prozac?
Posted Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Millions turn to Botox to erase the external signs of sadness. Conversely, Darwin first suggested that facial muscle and skin movement might contribute to our moods and emotions. So Eric Finzi, MD, PhD, and Erika Wasserman, PhD, set out to see if alleviating furrowed brows could impact depression.
Ten clinically depressed patients between 36 and 63 who had never been treated with Botox were given injections. Two months later, the patients were found to have an absence of frown lines and given a repeat test for depression.
The study found that nine out of the ten patients were no longer considered clinically depressed, and the tenth patient reported an improvement in mood.
It’s important to note that the temporary nature of Botox requires that the treatment be repeated to maintain both the physical and implied emotional results, and a larger-scale, more clinically balanced study is necessary to confirm these findings.
Tags: Botox, depression, injectable, research, study, wrinkles