title: Treatment of depression with botulinum toxin A: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Major depression is a common and serious disease that may be resistant to routine pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatment approaches.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin A treatment of glabellar frown lines in treating patients with major depression, using a small open pilot trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who met DSM-IV criteria for ongoing major depression in spite of pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic treatment were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) before receiving botulinum toxin A to their glabellar frown lines. Two months later, all patients were re-evaluated clinically and with the BDI-II.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten depressed patients were treated with botulinum toxin A, and 9 of 10 patients were no longer depressed 2 months after treatment. The tenth patient had an improvement in mood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, these are the first reported cases of depression treated with botulinum toxin A.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Associates, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. efinzi@starpower.net
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Finzi
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wasserman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A