Accutane is a member of the drug class known as retinoids, which have been shown to alter the way the body reads genes. Use of the drug while expecting a child is known to damage fetuses and reduce the quantity of brain cells that they generate. This is why precautions are taken to ensure that women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant do not take the drug. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that brain-cell production can be equally important in adolescents and adults. Scientists at the University of Baths and the University of Texas in Austin express Accutane might also interfere with the body's synthesis of the mood hormone serotonin.

While evidence from the more than 13 million users of Accutane worldwide shows that just 5 to 10 percent suffer from side effects, retinoids have also been implied in connections to Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, so doctors are eager to know how the drug works.

Depression Linked to Acne Treatment

Acne treatment with the medication isotretinoin (Accutane) has been involved in an increase in feelings of depression in adolescent users, and while the link has never been proven, researchers have gathered evidence through an animal study.

Although scientist Dr. Sarah Bailey noted that it is impossible to ask a mouse if it is depressed, its behaviour can be analyzed and modeled through two tests. The first involves causing the young mice to experience stress by forcing it to swim, while the second produces stress by suspending the mice by its tail.

Acne Cure Tested for Side Effects

Normally, a mouse will swim, climb and struggle, and only periodically stop in a period of resignation. A depressed mouse will stay in its resigned state longer than one that is healthy. The mice receiving human-equivalent doses of Accutane tended to demonstrate increased depression-related behavior.

Accutane producer Roche says, "While no causal link has been demonstrated between Accutane and either depression or suicide, we are constantly inspecting all available safety databases on Accutane worldwide." However, the World Health Organization has reported 720 cases of psychiatric problems linked to the use of Accutane, including 84 suicides and suicide attempts.

The argument that isotretinoin caused depression and suicide has won a few lawsuits, and is partially responsible for the strict control of the drug, especially in the US. Several case reports of depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide in people treated with the acne skin care isotretinoin have been reported to the U.S. FDA Adverse Events Reporting System, with 431 incidences documented between 1982 and May 2001 - of these 37 patients had committed suicide.

Idiosyncratic Effects From Acne Skin Care

Studies have shown that people with acne, the population group eligible to undergo isotretinoin therapy, have an increased chance of clinical depression compared with the general population. Isotretinoin related depression is "an idiosyncratic side effect." Usually anxiety can bring on acne and depression, creating more anxiety. Also, treatment of severe acne with isotretinoin has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression.

One study using positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrated functional brain imaging changes in patients using isotretinoin, however the clinical significance of this finding is unclear.