Paywall. Any summary or opinion to offer apart from the link?
Article
Serotonin and depression: what are the implications for psychiatry and patients?
‘There is no convincing evidence that depression is associated with, or caused by, lower serotonin concentrations or activity’
In 2019, University College Cork (UCC) researchers noted – From isoniazid to psychobiotics: the gut microbiome as a new antidepressant target – that the first antidepressant discovered was an antibiotic: “Isoniazid was an antibacterial drug developed in the USA in the 1950s for treating tuberculosis”.
The observation that isoniazid improved mood was associated with inhibiting the action of monoamine oxidase enzymes, thus increasing the concentration of monoamines like serotonin in the brain. Subsequent development of antidepressants including selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – that increase the availability of monoamine neurotransmitters – heralded the “chemical imbalance” hypothesis, which emerged in 1967, and asserts that antidepressants rebalance the wayward brain chemistry associated with depression.
However, a recent review in Molecular Psychiatry – The serotonin theory of depression – led by University College London’s Prof Joanna Moncrieff claims “there is no convincing evidence that depression is associated with, or caused by, lower serotonin concentrations or activity”.
What are the implications for psychiatry and patients? Gerard Clarke is professor of neurobehavioural science in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science at UCC, and a principal investigator in APC Microbiome Ireland. Commenting on Prof Moncrieff’s review, Prof Clarke explained that the antidepressant drugs targeting neurotransmitters like serotonin preceded the chemical imbalance hypothesis: “The initial chemical imbalance hypothesis,” says Clarke, “prompted research into the underlying neurobiology, but the hypothesis was judged too simplistic with many limitations, including the caveat that there’s a delay in the onset of antidepressants’ action which is unexplained by its overly-simplistic early version.”
A good analogy I heard from a neurologist was that a lack of serotonin doesn’t cause depression, but that doesn’t mean serotonin can’t treat depression. Just like a lack of penicillin doesn’t cause an infection, but penicillin can treat an infection
I don’t think anyone was of the opinion that depression was caused by low serotonin. There are likely many different causes of depression with differing underlying pathologies. That article / paper was click bait and I’m surprised it was published in that form. There is overwhelming clinical evidence that antidepressant medications work. Though the underlying pathways to explain why may not be understood, but believe it or not neurons and neurochemistry is complex stuff! We are only recently developing techniques allowing us to investigate. The serotonin system may well be involved, but not as simple as being down to the levels of neurotransmitter that are measurable. Currently the most compelling evidence supports the theory of a change to neuroplasticity underlying the efficacy of antidepressants.
Not surprised after looking at your post history your anti-psychiatry. You’re not open to a discussion, you just want to ‘debunk’ any legitimate use of medication for mental illness. The way this article is written has been done time and time again and is just some click baity shit.
6 comments
[The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01661-0)
[Depression is probably not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain](https://theconversation.com/depression-is-probably-not-caused-by-a-chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain-new-study-186672)
[How to take the news that depression has not been shown to be caused by a chemical imbalance](https://joannamoncrieff.com/2022/07/24/how-to-take-the-news-that-depression-has-not-been-shown-to-be-caused-by-a-chemical-imbalance/)
[Little evidence that chemical imbalance causes depression, UCL scientists find](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/20/scientists-question-widespread-use-of-antidepressants-after-survey-on-serotonin)
[This Morning – ITV discussing the research](https://youtu.be/d65J2Kqv4xQ)
Paywall. Any summary or opinion to offer apart from the link?
Article
Serotonin and depression: what are the implications for psychiatry and patients?
‘There is no convincing evidence that depression is associated with, or caused by, lower serotonin concentrations or activity’
In 2019, University College Cork (UCC) researchers noted – From isoniazid to psychobiotics: the gut microbiome as a new antidepressant target – that the first antidepressant discovered was an antibiotic: “Isoniazid was an antibacterial drug developed in the USA in the 1950s for treating tuberculosis”.
The observation that isoniazid improved mood was associated with inhibiting the action of monoamine oxidase enzymes, thus increasing the concentration of monoamines like serotonin in the brain. Subsequent development of antidepressants including selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – that increase the availability of monoamine neurotransmitters – heralded the “chemical imbalance” hypothesis, which emerged in 1967, and asserts that antidepressants rebalance the wayward brain chemistry associated with depression.
However, a recent review in Molecular Psychiatry – The serotonin theory of depression – led by University College London’s Prof Joanna Moncrieff claims “there is no convincing evidence that depression is associated with, or caused by, lower serotonin concentrations or activity”.
What are the implications for psychiatry and patients? Gerard Clarke is professor of neurobehavioural science in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science at UCC, and a principal investigator in APC Microbiome Ireland. Commenting on Prof Moncrieff’s review, Prof Clarke explained that the antidepressant drugs targeting neurotransmitters like serotonin preceded the chemical imbalance hypothesis: “The initial chemical imbalance hypothesis,” says Clarke, “prompted research into the underlying neurobiology, but the hypothesis was judged too simplistic with many limitations, including the caveat that there’s a delay in the onset of antidepressants’ action which is unexplained by its overly-simplistic early version.”
A good analogy I heard from a neurologist was that a lack of serotonin doesn’t cause depression, but that doesn’t mean serotonin can’t treat depression. Just like a lack of penicillin doesn’t cause an infection, but penicillin can treat an infection
I don’t think anyone was of the opinion that depression was caused by low serotonin. There are likely many different causes of depression with differing underlying pathologies. That article / paper was click bait and I’m surprised it was published in that form. There is overwhelming clinical evidence that antidepressant medications work. Though the underlying pathways to explain why may not be understood, but believe it or not neurons and neurochemistry is complex stuff! We are only recently developing techniques allowing us to investigate. The serotonin system may well be involved, but not as simple as being down to the levels of neurotransmitter that are measurable. Currently the most compelling evidence supports the theory of a change to neuroplasticity underlying the efficacy of antidepressants.
Not surprised after looking at your post history your anti-psychiatry. You’re not open to a discussion, you just want to ‘debunk’ any legitimate use of medication for mental illness. The way this article is written has been done time and time again and is just some click baity shit.