Acne patients on isotretinoin suffer more depression than those on oral antibiotics: Study

Not much is known the different effects of systemic anti-acne treatments on mental health. Joshua Hekmatjah, Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, and colleagues aimed to determine of acne patients treated with isotretinoin versus oral antibiotics (doxycycline, minocycline, or tetracycline) have different mental health outcomes.

For the population study, the researchers utilized the 2004-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Using the Patient Health Questionnaire 2 (PHQ-2), depressive symptoms were assessed and Kessler 6-Item Psychological Distress Scale (K6) was used to measure psychological distress. Acne patients completed both the 'PHQ-2 and K6 during treatment with isotretinoin or oral antibiotics. Lower scores on both measures indicate better mental health outcomes. 

"Acne patients on isotretinoin experienced less depressive symptoms and psychological distress as compared to oral antibiotics," wrote the authors.

"In addition to assessing the safety profile of systemic treatment options, dermatologists must also take into account the physical and mental health burden of disease when treating patients with moderate to severe acne," they concluded. 

The study titled, "Depression and Distress in Acne Patients on Isotretinoin vs Oral Antibiotics," is published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.

DOI: https://jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961621P0172X