The Treatment of Depression With Botulinum Type A Toxin

Seton Healthcare Family

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Depression

Treatments: Drug: Placebo; Drug: botulinum toxin type A neurotoxin complex

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01392963

CR-11-021

Details and patient eligibility

About

A 24-week Randomized, Double-blind study treating people who suffer from depression who also have moderate to severe frown lines in forehead region with Botox injections. Subjects participating will have their photos taken and complete a questionnaire regarding their depression. They will see a psychiatrist at every visit who will assess their depression.

Full description

Participants will be assigned to receive either placebo or botulinum toxin injections in the forehead

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Male/Female between the ages of 18 and 65

2. Major Depression Disorder as defined by DSM IV criteria and diagnosed by a psychiatrist. DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) IV criteria for depression are: a depressed mood or anhedonia for at least a two week period. This mood must represent a change from the person's normal mood; social, occupational, educational or other important functioning must also be negatively impaired by the change in mood. Major depressive disorder cannot be diagnosed if a person has a history of bipolar disorder or if the depressed mood is better accounted for by substance abuse or a psychotic disorder. In addition, the patient must have 5 of the following symptoms:

   • Significant weight loss or weight gain.
   • Insomnia or hypersomnia
   • Psychomotor agitation or retardation
   • Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
   • Poor Concentration
   • Fatigue or loss of energy
   • Suicidal thoughts

3. History of depression for at least 6 months

4. Initial score 14 or higher on initial Hamilton Depression rating scale.

5. Melancholic facial expressions amenable to treatment with Botox. Photos will be taken of potential participants and ranked independently by two investigators, on a scale of 1-10 based on how negative they look, 10 being the highest. Patients with an average score of 6 or above will be included in the study

Exclusion criteria

1. Active substance abuse
2. Bipolar Depression
3. Subjects who are pregnant, nursing or trying to become pregnant during study participation
4. Subjects who are currently on more than 3 psychiatric medications at the time of enrollment
5. Current medications used to treat depression must be stable for at least 60 days prior to enrollment
6. Previous Botox treatment
7. The Principle Investigator has determined that this study is not in the best interest of the subject and therefore the subject will not be enrolled.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Botox, Then Placebo

Experimental group

Description:

At baseline visit (week 0) participants received an injection of clostridium botulinum toxin type A neurotoxin complex (Allergan; total injection of 29-40 U) in the glabella region according to standard protocols of cosmetic botulinum toxin applications. After a 3 month evaluation period, participants received a placebo injection (matching botulinum toxin) to glabella region at study visit 4 (week 12).

Treatment:

Drug: botulinum toxin type A neurotoxin complex

Drug: Placebo

Placebo, Then Botox

Experimental group

Description:

At baseline visit (week 0) participants received a placebo injection (matching botulinum toxin) to glabella region. After a 3 month evaluation period, participants received an injection of clostridium botulinum toxin type A neurotoxin complex (Allergan; total injection of 29-40 U) in the glabella region according to standard protocols of cosmetic botulinum toxin applications at study visit 4 (week 12).

Treatment:

Drug: botulinum toxin type A neurotoxin complex

Drug: Placebo