Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Accutane Study: No increased risk for depression?

On the radio, TV and on various sources:

A small study fails to link the use of the acne drug Accutane to severe depression or suicide. The findings are reported in the May issue of the journal Archives of Dermatology. There is no direct proof to back up the claim, says psychiatrist Douglas G. Jacobs, who is a consultant to the drug's manufacturer, Roche Labs.

Comment: I see. A consultant to Roche Labs- the maker of Accutane - says there is no direct proof to back up the claim that Accutane may lead to depression in teens. Seems like an unbiased source, doesn't it?

In Atlanta, Emory University's psychiatrist J. Douglas Bremner, MD, noted that this study was too small to answer many questions about whether Accutane causes depression. Of the 132 patients enrolled, 59 were treated with Accutane and 73 were prescribed antibiotics and topical creams.