Frequency of depression in patients with acne vulgaris treated with short-course low dose oral isotretinoin

Acne vulgaris affects individuals of all ages, and isotretinoin is the most effective treatment available for this disease. However, serious adverse effects, including the possibility of depression and suicide, could limit its use. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of depression in patients with acne vulgaris treated with oral isotretinoin. Materials and Methods: Forty acne vulgaris patients treated with oral isotretinoin and 40 age- and sex-matched controls treated with a systemic antibiotic (doxycycline 100-200 mg/day) and a topical retinoid were enrolled in this study. The depression score was measured based on Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) in both groups before and after two months of treatment. Result: The BDI score and the rate of depression were not significantly different between the two groups after the twomonth treatment period. Moreover, we did not find any significant change in BDI score in each group after treatment (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that short-course oral isotretinoin therapy does not increase the depression rate among acne vulgaris patients. It should be noted that oral isotretinoin causes a significant clinical improvement in patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris, which could be associated with a decrease in depression scores.