Botulinum toxin relieves anxiety and depression in patients with hemifacial spasm and blepharospasm

Objective: To explore the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) therapy in relieving anxiety and depression in patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS) and benign essential blepharospasm (BEB).

Patients and method: Ninety idiopathic HFS patients and 90 BEB patients were enrolled. The anxiety and depression status were evaluated by self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS), respectively, before and after the injection of BTX-A.

Results: Before treatment, the SAS and SDS scores of HFS patients were 41.25±6.35 and 42.25±7.57, respectively. The SAS scores were 40.17±8.36 for males and 43.56±6.10 for females (P=0.031). The SDS scores were 40.25±6.46 for males and 45.48±7.31 for females (P=0.008). After treatment, the SAS and SDS scores were 30.12±4.35 and 30.58±4.89, respectively. There was a significant difference in the SAS and SDS scores before and after treatment. Before treatment, the SAS scores of male and female BEB patients were 56.45±8.75 and 60.89±9.11, respectively, and the SDS scores of male and female BEB patients were 57.90±7.93 and 60.12±8.35, respectively. After treatment, the SAS score was 38.17±3.67 and the SDS score was 38.12±4.15, with a significant difference in before and after treatment scores.

Conclusion: In HFS and BEB, especially in female patients, there is an association with anxiety and depression. BTX-A can improve the symptoms of anxiety and depression.