Initially used in cosmetic surgery, botox (or botulinum toxin) would also have psychiatric virtues.
- 15% of French people suffer from anxiety.
- Women are more affected than men.
Is it the disappearance of wrinkles that gives balm to the heart? Perhaps. In any case, a new study has just established that botox injections are effective in the fight against… anxiety.
More than 40,000 people tested
To reach this astonishing conclusion, the researchers retrieved data from a large survey initially aimed at identifying the bad sides of botox. “The main goal was to find harmful effects that had not been identified in clinical trials,” comments Ruben Abagyan, professor of pharmacy and co-author of the article.“We had another idea: why not turn the problem upside down and try to find beneficial effects?”.
With this in mind, the researchers classified more than 40,000 people into eight different groups, organized according to where they received the injection (face, head, neck, arms, legs, etc.). Some received botox, others placebo.
The risk of anxiety decreased by more than 22%
Assessment after analysis: the risk of anxiety had decreased by more than 22% among users of botulinum toxin, and this for four of the eight injection sites studied. “We found that, compared to other treatments, botox injections were associated with a lower incidence of symptoms of anxiety and related disorders,” write the researchers. “These results are encouraging regarding the possible use of botulinum acid as a treatment for this type of health problem,” they add.
“Further research is needed to determine the mechanism by which botox reduces anxiety,” however, specifies Ruben Abagyan by way of conclusion. Additional clinical trials will also be needed to find the best place to inject the anti-anxiety botox, as well as the necessary dose.
In a previous study, the same research team had demonstrated the positive effects of botox on the symptoms of depression (which may include anxiety, editor’s note).
.
