title: Treatment of major depressive disorder using botulinum toxin A: a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a single treatment of botulinum toxin A in the forehead (glabellar) region can improve symptoms of depression in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), as defined by DSM-IV criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty participants were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or botulinum toxin A (BTA; onabotulinumtoxinA) injections in the forehead. Female participants received 29 units; male participants received 39 units. At week 12, the groups were crossed over. Participants were evaluated at weeks 0, 3, 6, 12, 15, 18, and 24 for improvement in MDD symptoms using the Patient Health Care Questionnaire-9, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and 21-Item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-21) objective measurement scales. The primary outcome was the rate of HDRS-21 response, defined as ≥ 50% score reduction from baseline. The study occurred from July 2011 to November 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who received BTA at week 0 (BTA-first group) and at week 12 (BTA-second group) had a statistically significant reduction in MDD symptoms as compared to placebo. Improvement in MDD continued over 24 weeks in the group that received BTA first even though the cosmetic effects of BTA wore off at 12 to 16 weeks. HDRS-21 response rates were 55% (6/11) in the BTA-first group, 24% (4/17) in the BTA-second group, and 0% (0/19) in the placebo group (P < .0001). HDRS-21 remission rates (score ≤ 7) were 18% (2/11), 18% (3/17), and 0% (0/19), respectively (P = .057). HDRS-21 scores dropped -46% and -35% in the BTA-first and -second groups versus -2% in the placebo group (P < .0001). The BDI response rate (≥ 50% reduction from baseline) was 45% (5/11) in the BTA-first group, 33% (6/18) in the BTA-second group, and 5% (1/19) in the placebo group (P = .0067). BDI remission rates (score ≤ 9) were 27% (3/11), 33% (6/18), and 5% (1/19), respectively (P = .09). BDI scores dropped -42% and -35% in the BTA-first and -second groups versus -15% in the placebo group (P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Botulinum toxin A injection in the glabellar region was associated with significant improvement in depressive symptoms and may be a safe and sustainable intervention in the treatment of MDD.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01392963.
authors.affiliation: 1600 West 38th St, Ste 404, Austin, TX78731 michellemagidmd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magid
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Reichenberg
authors.forename: Poppy E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Poth
authors.forename: Henry T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Amanda K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: LaViolette
authors.forename: Tillmann H C
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: M Axel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wollmer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A