Acne: Could Isotretinoin Lead to Depression?

New research suggests the acne drug isotretinoin is not an independent risk factor for depression in adults with acne.

In a study of medical records of more than 38,000 patients with acne aged 18 to 65 years, researchers found that 41 of 1087 (3.77%) of patients treated with isotretinoin developed depression compared with 1775 of 36,929 patients who were not treated with isotretinoin.

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“These results showed no significant difference in frequency of depression between acne patients treated with isotretinoin and those who receive other types of therapy,” said study author Bethanee Schlosser, MD, PhD, FAAD, in a press release. “Further, we know the mere presence of acne can be associated with mood disorders, including depression, and isotretinoin can provide significant relief for patients whose acne is not responding to other treatments and causing severe psychosocial distress.”

Although no studies to date have identified a causal relationship between isotretinoin use and depression, more research is still needed in this area, and clinicians should continue to monitor patients for symptoms of depression, Dr Schlosser noted.

These findings were presented at the 2019 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Study indicates isotretinoin is not an independent risk factor for depression [press release]. Washington, DC. American Academy of Dermatology. March 1, 2019. Accessed on March 1, 2019.