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appalachiablue

(43,531 posts)
Tue Aug 2, 2022, 03:50 AM Aug 2022

No Evidence That Depression Is Caused By Low Serotonin Levels, Finds Comprehensive Review, UCL [View all]

Last edited Tue Aug 2, 2022, 08:11 AM - Edit history (2)

Science Daily. No evidence that depression is caused by low serotonin levels, finds comprehensive review. University College London, July 20, 2022.

The New umbrella review -- an overview of existing meta-analyses and systematic reviews -- published in Molecular Psychiatry, suggests that depression is not likely caused by a chemical imbalance, and calls into question what antidepressants do.

Most antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which were originally said to work by correcting abnormally low serotonin levels. There is no other accepted pharmacological mechanism by which antidepressants affect the symptoms of depression.

Lead author Professor Joanna Moncrieff, a Professor of Psychiatry at UCL and a consultant psychiatrist at North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), said: "It is always difficult to prove a negative, but I think we can safely say that after a vast amount of research conducted over several decades, there is no convincing evidence that depression is caused by serotonin abnormalities, particularly by lower levels or reduced activity of serotonin.

"The popularity of the 'chemical imbalance' theory of depression has coincided with a huge increase in the use of antidepressants. Prescriptions for antidepressants have risen dramatically since the 1990s, with one in six adults in England and 2% of teenagers now being prescribed an antidepressant in a given year. "Many people take antidepressants because they have been led to believe their depression has a biochemical cause, but this new research suggests this belief is not grounded in evidence."...

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220720080145.htm

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I suffer from severe depression brought on by my real life situation that I am trapped in with no cstanleytech Aug 2022 #1
I'm so sorry to read this LittleGirl Aug 2022 #3
Who Is the Psychiatrist Behind the Antidepressant Study Taking Over Right-Wing Media? douglas9 Aug 2022 #2
Wow. That puts a different light on it, doesn't it? Thanks for this. Scrivener7 Aug 2022 #6
Thanks! A good counter weight... reACTIONary Aug 2022 #8
Tx, interesting, & what's real. Some benefitted, others not. A few on the left also opposed SSRIs. appalachiablue Aug 2022 #12
Well, Delphinus Aug 2022 #4
I hate gifts for the right-wing MindHowYouGo Aug 2022 #5
That is really concerning, thanks for posting. appalachiablue Aug 2022 #13
I take 100 mg of a serotonin reuptake inhibitor daily. It helps with my mild chronic depression. John1956PA Aug 2022 #7
Thanks for your perspective! nt reACTIONary Aug 2022 #9
For all that take this as the last word on the issue, I'd suggest taking a breath and waiting to see hlthe2b Aug 2022 #10
Good idea, let's see more. Agree about overprescribing & need for review. appalachiablue Aug 2022 #14
The "chemical imbalance" theory never had empirical support. Mosby Aug 2022 #11
Some truth to that unfortunately. appalachiablue Aug 2022 #15
Beware of meta-analysis, it is a flawed methodology with high potential for bias Fiendish Thingy Aug 2022 #16
Interesting that this would come out right now BWdem4life Aug 2022 #17
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