METHOD OF TREATING DEPRESSION
Methods are disclosed herein for treating depression in the subject. A method includes the use of Botulinum toxin to cause paralysis of a facial muscle, such as the depressor anguli oris, procerus, frontalis , orbicularis oculi, or corrugator supercilii muscle to treat depression in the subject.
1 . A method for treating an affective disorder in a subject, comprising:
administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a botulinum toxin to one or more facial muscle involved in frowning, scowling or a sad appearance; wherein the therapeutically effective amount is an amount sufficient to cause paralysis of the one or more facial muscle;
thereby treating the affective disorder in the subject.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more facial muscle involved in frowning, scowling or a sad appearance is selected from the group consisting of frontalis , orbicularis oculi, procerus, corrugator supercilii, and depressor anguli oris muscle.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more facial muscle is a frontalis muscle, an orbicularis oculi muscle, or a procerus muscle.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more facial muscle is a corrugator supercilii muscle, or a procerus muscle.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the botulinum toxin in the composition is selected from the group consisting of the botulinum toxins types A, B, C 1 , D, E, F and G.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the botulinum toxin in the composition is botulinum toxin A.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount is about 5-60 Unit equivalents of a botulinum toxin type A.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising administering a second composition comprising an additional therapeutically effective amount of the botulinum toxin type A to the one or more facial muscle after about two to six months.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an additional modality of treatment for depression.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the additional modality of treatment comprises administration of an antidepressant, psychotherapy, or a physical treatment for depression.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the additional modality of treatment comprises a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.