How many times have we heard the lie that people have “depression” because there is something wrong with their brains due to “chemical imbalances” just so medications can be pushed on them to “fix” those “imbalances”? One such example is that people are depressed because they don’t have enough serotonin in the brain, which has lead to an explosion psychiatric medications that inhibit the metabolism of serotonins called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI).
Recent study published in Nature‘s Molecular Psychiatry dispute this outdate claim about “chemical imbalances” as your reason for being sad in a large systematic review by researchers in London of a total of 17 previous studies
The authors wrote in their findings, “the major strands of research on serotonin shows there is no convincing evidence that depression is associated with, or caused by, lower serotonin concentrations or activity.”
Most studies revealed no differences in serotonin activity in people with depression and people without. They also found serotonin reduction methods such as tryptophan depletion did not lower mood among participants. Moreover, the concluded genetic studies did not show a link between serotonin system-related genetics and depression.
“The idea that depression is the result of a chemical imbalance also influences decisions about whether to take or continue antidepressant medication and may discourage people from discontinuing treatment, potentially leading to lifelong dependence on these drugs,” the researchers added.
Are you sad or depressed? Look at your life circumstances and be proactive in addressing those issues because people aren’t sad or depressed because they have something wrong with their brains. There’s nothing wrong with your brain, it is the most powerful tool you have to lift you out of life’s rut and overcome life’s challenges. Your brain is your hope and life’s solutions are buried in it somewhere.
J Moncrieff et al. The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Molecular Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0
