Botox for the Blues?

You have probably heard an expression like "Put on a happy face!" or other sayings to that effect. The theory is this: when you smile, you activate the brain areas that are associated with good feelings. So, even when you are feeling blue, simply smiling is supposed to make you feel better.

Now there is evidence, even though it's preliminary, that backs up that notion.

Eric Finzi, M.D., Ph.D., conducted a small pilot study in which he injected Botox into the faces of 10 women who had been suffering from long-standing depression...depression which had not responded to convential treatment. Botox, which is used by facial plastic surgeons to erase frown lines, prevented the study subjects from frowning.

9 out of the 10 study participants no longer met the clinical standards for depression after only two months.

Dr. Finzi's study results have been roundly criticized by many of his professional colleagues, both in medicine and psychiatry. They contend that, among other reasons, (1) the number of subjects was much too small to make generalizations about the effect of Botox on all patients with depression, (2) the results could have been due, not to the Botox, but to the placebo effect and (3) the improvement in the study participants was entirely based on self-report.

As flawed as the initial study may have been, I think a larger study is warranted. The idea that the facial frown muscles are feeding back into the depression centers of the brain is quite intriguing. The treatment of resistant depression with Botox injections, if it is indeed proven to work, would certainly be a lot safer that risking the side effects of medication or other more noxious treatments.

Meanwhile, Dr. Finzi has applied for a patent for this treatment for depression.

Keep on smiling!

(Dr. Finzi's study was published in the May issue of Dermatologic Surgery.)

Comments

[facial]

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[Botox Prescription Information]

My name is Diana Lee and i would like to show you my personal experience with Botox.

I have suffered with migraines and neck pain for many years. Botox has given me my life back. I have arthritis in my neck and Botox is the ONLY thing that has given me relief.

Side Effects-
None…miracle drug

I hope this information will be useful to others,
Diana Lee