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).
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Collaborator:
Hannover Medical School
Treatments:
abobotulinumtoxinA Botulinum Toxins Botulinum Toxins, Type A incobotulinumtoxinA onabotulinumtoxinA Pharmaceutical Solutions