In the largest clinical study to date on the effects of Botox (OnabotulinumtoxinA) on depression, Georgetown Medical School researchers found more than half of depressed patients treated with the popular anti-wrinkle remedy showed a substantial improvement — reporting a lessening of in symptoms amounting to nearly 50 percent after six weeks.
 

The study, published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, included 74 patients injected with a single treatment of either Botox or an inactive placebo between the eyebrows. Results showed that depressive symptoms decreased 47 percent, compared to 21 percent in the placebo group.

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 "This research is groundbreaking because it offers those who suffer from depression and their doctors an entirely new approach to treating the condition — one that doesn't conflict with any other treatments," said researcher Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown, suggesting Botox may help relieve depressive symptoms as a stand-alone therapy, or in combination with other treatments.
 

"This new research supports earlier facial feedback theory of Charles Darwin and William James which suggests that facial expressions influence mood," added Eric Finzi, M.D., a dermasurgeon and co-author on the study.