Monitoring People Treated with Isotretinoin for Depression

Abstract

Depression has been reported in some patients treated with isotretinoin, an effective medication for nodulocystic acne, a serious disorder resulting in permanent scarring. Since major depression, a common disorder associated with multiple health risks including suicide attempts and treatment noncompliance, may occur during the course of treatment with isotretinoin, persons treated with isotretinoin must be screened for depression before starting treatment and monitored for depression regularly during the course of treatment with isotretinoin. Those with evidence of depression must then be referred for prompt treatment to abort serious adverse outcomes, including suicide. Psychologists constitute key members of the treatment team of patients taking isotretinoin.