Treatment of panic disorder using botulinum toxin
View Patent ↗Methods are disclosed for treating social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and/or panic disorder in a subject. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of a neurotoxin to a corrugator supercilii and/or a procerus muscle of the subject to cause paralysis of the corrugator supercilii and/or a procerus muscle in the subject, thereby treating PTSD. The neurotoxin can be Botulinum toxin A, such as at a dose of about 20 to about 50 units of Botulinum toxin A.
1. A method for treating a panic disorder in a subject, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a botulinum toxin to a facial muscle involved in frowning, scowling, or a sad appearance of the subject to cause paralysis of facial muscle involved in frowning, scowling, or a sad appearance of the subject or a panic disorder in a subject, thereby treating the panic disorder in the subject.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Botulinum toxin is Botulinum toxin A.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the subject does not have any other psychiatric disorder.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the subject does not have a muscular disorder or paralysis.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein about 20 to about 50 Unit equivalents of Botulinum toxin type A are administered to the corrugator supercilii and the procerus muscle in the subject.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising administering an additional dose of about 20 to about 50 Unit equivalents of Botulinum toxin type A to the corrugator supercilii and the procerus muscle after about two to six months.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the subject is human.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an additional modality of treatment for the panic disorder.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the additional modality of treatment comprises an antidepressant, psychotherapy, or behavioral therapy.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the additional modality of treatment comprises a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a tricyclic antidepressant, a benzodiazepine or an atypical antipsychotic.