Botox May Ease Depression.

Bookofjoe calls it a "provocative study" in this month's Dermatologic Surgery. BehindTheMedspeak: Can Botox Cure Depression?

Provocative indeed.

In removing those frown lines, Botox looks as though it's also relieving depression.

The Washington Post reported Botox Appears to Ease Depression

Alastair Carruthers, president-elect of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, agreed that Finzi's study provides new insight into a phenomenon clinicians have noticed.

"Anyone who has injected much Botox into the frown area has had people come in and say they can't believe how they feel better as a result," said Carruthers, clinical professor in dermatology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, in an interview. "We've not really been able to put our fingers on why. . . . We have been doing research based on appearance, but it may be due to some mood-altering effect of Botox that we don't understand."
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Of the 10 depressed patients in the Washington area whom Finzi studied, nine recovered from their depressive symptoms, and one -- who turned out to have bipolar disorder, or manic depression -- showed an improvement in mood.
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Finzi, who practices dermatology in Greenbelt and Chevy Chase, said his hunch was that Delano's facial muscles provided feedback to her brain.

"My theory on why this works is there is a feedback between the muscles of facial expression and the brain," said Finzi, who has applied for a patent on using Botox for depression. "With yoga, you focus on your breathing, and it has an effect on your mind. My hypothesis is the facial muscles . . . have an effect on depression."

Hey, what would smiling do?

Even if you're faking a smile, it releases endorphrins that make feel better.

Smile
Lyle Lovett

Smile, though your heart is aching.
Smile, even though it's breaking.
Though there are clouds in the sky,
You get by...

If you smile through your fears and sorrows.
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through.

If you just light up your face with gladness,
Hide every trace of sadness.
Although a tear may be ever, ever so near.

That's the time you must keep on trying.
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find life is worthwhile
If you'll just smile, come on and smile.

If you just smile.