Acne drug linked to depression in animal tests

The active ingredient in the acne drug Accutane seems to cause depression-related behavior in mice, a study has found.

Accutane, also sold generically as isotretinoin, has been linked to reports of depression and suicidal behavior among users. However, human studies have yielded conflicting results as to whether the drug itself contributes to these problems.

Depression is a complex disorder and, therefore, difficult to pin down to a single cause. For example, Accutane users often have severe acne, which itself may lead to depression.