Open AccessIsotretinoin, Acne and Depression: A Prospective Controlled Study
Author(s) -
Laura V. Langer,
Lucas Rodrigues Prim,
Thelma Larocca Skare,
Virginia Wrublevski,
Renato Nisihara
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
revista da sociedade portuguesa de dermatologia e venereologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2182-2409
pISSN - 2182-2395
DOI - 10.29021/spdv.79.3.1373
Subject(s) - isotretinoin , acne , depression (economics) , medicine , beck depression inventory , dermatology , quality of life (healthcare) , psychiatry , anxiety , macroeconomics , nursing , economics
Acne and isotretinoin, one of its treatment, have been linked to the occurrence of depression. Our aim was to study if isotretinoin is associated with depression in a sample of acne patients followed for 6 months comparing them with acne patients under other treatment modalities and control patients without acne.
Methods: One hundred individuals were included: 50 controls and 50 with acne (24 using and 26 not using isotretinoin). Patients and controls answered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the 12 Item-Short Form Health Survey for quality of life (SF-12). Acne patients repeated this evaluation in 90 and 180 days.
Results: No differences were found between controls and acne patients regarding BDI results but controls performed worse in the SF-12 mental domain (p=0.004). No differences were found within the acne group between those treated and not treated with isotretinoin in the comparison of the BDI and SF-12 (mental and physical domains) in days 0. 90 and 180 (all with p>0.05).
Conclusion: In this small sample isotretinoin treatment showed to be safe regarding the occurrence of depression.