Botox injections could be used to treat depression, according to an ongoing clinical trial in the US.
The medication, which is derived from the botulinum neurotoxin, is commonly used to ease wrinkles, migraines, muscle spasms and other conditions.
Now researchers at the University of California, San Diego, say those who receive botox injections are depressed far less often than others.
They analysed a database which records adverse effects caused by medications to see what happened to nearly 40,000 people after they received botox treatment for a variety of reasons.
They discovered that people who were injected with the neurotoxin – at six different sites, not just the forehead, for a variety of reasons – reported depression significantly less often than patients who received different treatments for the same conditions.
“For years, clinicians have observed that botox injected for cosmetic reasons seems to ease depression for their patients,” said Professor Ruben Abagyan.
“It’s been thought that easing severe frown lines in forehead region disrupts a feedback loop that reinforces negative emotions.