Reduced anxiety and depression in cystic acne patients after successful treatment with oral isotretinoin

Abstract

We evaluated the psychiatric morbidity and mood characteristics of a group (n = 72) of patients with cystic acne before and after treatment with one of three dosage schedules of isotretinoin. Although no excess psychiatric morbidity was observed, substantial evidence of psychologic distress was noted before treatment. Significant reductions in anxiety were observed on several measures of anxiety after treatment, with mitigation of anxiety and depression most robust in those patients with the greatest dermatologic improvement with isotretinoin.