Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Depression

Clostridium Botulinum Type A Neurotoxin Complex for Adjuvant Treatment of Depressive Disorders - a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Depression is frequently accompanied by a specific sad facial expression. This expression is in part mediated by the same muscle activity that produces frown lines. Based on the assumption that there is a positive feedback between depressed mood and the correspondent facial muscle activity (facial feedback) the investigators will conduct a randomized controlled pilot study in which the investigators will apply a classical cosmetic treatment of frown lines with injections of botulinum toxin to depressed patients who did not sufficiently respond to antidepressant medication. The investigators hypothesize that this treatment will contribute to the amelioration of depressive symptoms in these patients. This hypothesis is supported by a previous open case series in which remission of depression was reported after such treatment (Finzi and Wasserman, 2006).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mild to moderate depression (Ham-D >=15)
• Therapy with one antidepressant for at least four weeks
• at least moderate frown line

Exclusion Criteria:

• Bipolar depression
• Psychiatric comorbidity
• Severe somatic comorbidity
• Pregnancy
• Peculiarities at the injection site
• Psychiatric medication other than one antidepressant
• Specific psychotherapy
• Previous application of botulinum toxin
• Medication interfering with botulinum toxin