Can Botulinum toxin actually make us happier?

A Swiss study1 recently found that injection of botulinum toxin to the glabellar area (targeting the frown lines between the eyes) improved mood in people with chronic depression. The study involved 30 patients who had not benefited from standard anti-depressant medicines, and improvements in mood were noted after just one treatment. Six weeks after a single treatment, depression scores were reduced by 47.1%, compared to only 9.2% in those treated with an inactive placebo. Another study2 showed that improvement in mood continued over 24 weeks in patients that received a single injection, even though the cosmetic effects wore off after 12-16 weeks. This supports the concept that our facial musculature can not only express, but also regulate mood states.  
  1. Wollmer MA et al. Facing depression with botulinum toxin: a randomized controlled trial. J Psychiatr Res. 2012; 46(5):574-81.
  2. Magid M et al. Treatment of major depressive disorder using botulinum toxin A: as 24-weeks randomized, double-blind, pacebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2014; 75(8):837-44.

Can Botulinum toxin actually make us happier?

A Swiss study1 recently found that injection of botulinum toxin to the glabellar area (targeting the frown lines between the eyes) improved mood in people with chronic depression. The study involved 30 patients who had not benefited from standard anti-depressant medicines, and improvements in mood were noted after just one treatment. Six weeks after a single treatment, depression scores were reduced by 47.1%, compared to only 9.2% in those treated with an inactive placebo.

Another study2 showed that improvement in mood continued over 24 weeks in patients that received a single injection, even though the cosmetic effects wore off after 12-16 weeks.

This supports the concept that our facial musculature can not only express, but also regulate mood states.

 

  1. Wollmer MA et al. Facing depression with botulinum toxin: a randomized controlled trial. J Psychiatr Res. 2012; 46(5):574-81.
  2. Magid M et al. Treatment of major depressive disorder using botulinum toxin A: as 24-weeks randomized, double-blind, pacebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2014; 75(8):837-44.