More than 300 million people globally struggle with depression and its persistent feelings of sadness. Depression affects everyday life for some. The most common treatment options currently available for depression are medication and psychotherapy. Compelling research also exists pointing to another option, using Botox for depression as a treatment option.
Today, we’ll explore what depression is, what Botox is, and how Botox for depression could prove to be effective for those who suffer from this condition.
What is depression?
To understand how using Botox for depression could be an effective treatment option, we must first understand depression. We’ve all felt an oftentimes inexplicable blue or empty feeling, but depression is more than a bad day or change in mood. Depression is a persistent case of sadness where symptoms last for more than two weeks.
Depression is a mood disorder that affects how you feel, think, and handle everyday activities, like sleeping, eating, or working according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It can be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. It can also occur with other serious medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson ’s disease. Depression is more common in women than men and affects different people in different ways.
What is Botox?
Botox is the most common non-surgical procedure in the United States. It is an injectable treatment that contains tiny amounts of highly purified botulinum toxin type A protein. Botox is traditionally known to relax and soften muscle movements that cause lines and wrinkles. However, it is also used to treat other medical conditions such as excessive sweating, migraines, muscular disorders, and some bladder and bowel disorders.
How Does Botox Work?
To understand how Botox works, we must deepen our understanding of what Botox is. Botox is made from the neurotoxin botulinum toxin and contains tiny amounts of a highly purified botulinum toxin type A protein. Botox is known as a neuromodulator, a subset of neurotransmitters that regulate nervous activity by controlling the physiological levels of several classes of neurotransmitters. Neuromodulators work in diffuse manner, meaning an entire neural tissue can be subject to a neuromodulator’s action when exposed. This can tune the neural circuitry of an entire region, not just that of an individual neuron.
In layman’s terms, botulinum toxin, the same toxin in Botox, can be injected into humans in very small amounts. This prevents signals from the nerve cells from reaching the muscles, in turn relaxing the muscles. In order for muscles to contract, nerves release a chemical messenger, also known as a neurotransmitter, called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine attaches to receptors on the muscle cells, causing the muscles to contract or shorten. Botox prevents the release of acetylcholine, which prevents the muscles from contracting and softens the muscles movements that cause lines and wrinkles over time.
Botox for Depression
Is using Botox for depression a viable treatment option? Early research indicates that botulinum toxin type A protein, what is found in Botox, can produce significant improvement in depressive symptoms and is a safe treatment option to be used in tandem with patients receiving medication for depression. Currently, Phase III trials are underway, and Vujevich Dermatology Associates is keeping abreast of the latest news on this research.
Another study conducted at the Hannover Medical School in Germany found that a single injection of Botox proved to reduce depression symptoms in almost of half of the patients, as compared to approximately 10% of the placebo group. Researchers explained using Botox for depression works because botulinum toxin interrupts a crucial cycle where emotions are expressed by our facial muscles. This then sends feedback to our brains to reinforce those emotions. If you experience depression symptoms, you can count that your countenance is reflecting those symptoms and Botox interrupts that cycle. Our faces play more of a role in our mental health than we realize!
Vujevich Dermatology Associates is committed to providing outstanding patient care through continued education and serving the communities where we live and work. This includes staying up to date on the latest news regarding the groundbreaking research of using Botox for depression. If you have additional questions regarding Botox or any other Pittsburgh cosmetic dermatology procedures that we offer, get in touch with us today.
Vujevich Dermatology Associates offers medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology from some of the most highly trained physicians and clinicians in the greater Pittsburgh area. You can reach our team at 412-429-2570 or visit our contact page to see all of our locations. You can also follow us on Facebook to see what’s new in the world of dermatology.