By overturning the idea that a chemical imbalance in the brain is behind depression, we are beginning to understand some of its mysteries and develop better treatments.
mind
January 18, 2023
Julia Neri
Last year, one of the most commonly held ideas about depression was upended. “Antidepressant research calls into question a drug taken by 8 million people.” Times the newspaper said in July. Other publications carried similarly alarming headlines. Depression is one of the greatest medical problems facing societies worldwide, and its treatment has long been a subject of debate. Studies have shown that Prozac and other common antidepressants are based on invalid hypotheses about the cause of this condition. The study’s principal investigator even suggested that the benefits of such drugs were due to the placebo effect.
Most antidepressants are said to work by restoring levels of a brain signaling chemical called serotonin. This is sometimes known as the “chemical imbalance” hypothesis of depression. This has been a kick in the teeth for many people who feel dependent on antidepressants. It also raises an important question. : If low serotonin can’t explain depression, what could? The mysteries about the condition don’t end there. We also don’t know how talking or electroconvulsive therapy works, nor do we understand the effects of genetics and stress on mental health.
But despite these uncertainties, there are some surprising advances. Two new therapies recently became available, and others in the pipeline show promise. “The level of science is more advanced than this paper implies,” says Carmine Pariante of King’s College London. “Things are not as bleak as they seem.”
The two main characteristics of depression are low mood and …
