A Prospective Trial of the Effects of Isotretinoin on Quality of Life and Depressive Symptoms

    January 2012 in “ Yearbook of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery ”
    D. Thiboutot
    Image of study
    TLDR Acne treatment, including isotretinoin, improves quality of life and does not worsen depression.
    In a 2010 study involving 96 acne patients, the effects of isotretinoin on quality of life (QoL) and depressive symptoms were examined. Participants were divided into two treatment groups: one receiving isotretinoin (n=65) and the other antibiotics (n=31), with a matched community sample (n=94) for comparison. Results indicated no significant deterioration in depression scores for either treatment group, and QoL in the physical and social domains improved, particularly for those with higher baseline depression scores. The isotretinoin group experienced a greater improvement in social QoL. The study concluded that acne treatment improves QoL, especially for those with initial depressive symptoms, and did not detect mood deterioration, although the potential for subtle or rare mood effects from isotretinoin could not be entirely dismissed.
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