Citation and link of the actual research paper:
Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, et al. The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Molecular Psychiatry. 2022. epub.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0
It's worth reading at least the discussion and conclusion sections. The review seemed thorough and used proper techniques for search and screening. I am not familiar with the 17 papers they used, nor am I going to read them over this. It's outside my specialty and time to commit.
Depression has a number of theories that support potential causes. The Serotonin theory (or more broadly the monoamine hypothesis) may have some merit, but not in all patients. It is clear from personal experience that these drugs do help some people, which is why they continue to be prescribed despite some pretty big side effects (short-term suicidal ideation in young adults when the drug is started and titrated, sexual dysfunction).
If anything, the article is a good reminder to keep an open mind to multiple potential causes of depression and accordingly to various potential modes of treatment. Not everyone needs to be on Xoloft or Prozac or similar.
Citation and link of the actual research paper: Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, et al. The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Molecular Psychiatry. 2022. epub. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0
It's worth reading at least the discussion and conclusion sections. The review seemed thorough and used proper techniques for search and screening. I am not familiar with the 17 papers they used, nor am I going to read them over this. It's outside my specialty and time to commit.
Depression has a number of theories that support potential causes. The Serotonin theory (or more broadly the monoamine hypothesis) may have some merit, but not in all patients. It is clear from personal experience that these drugs do help some people, which is why they continue to be prescribed despite some pretty big side effects (short-term suicidal ideation in young adults when the drug is started and titrated, sexual dysfunction).
If anything, the article is a good reminder to keep an open mind to multiple potential causes of depression and accordingly to various potential modes of treatment. Not everyone needs to be on Xoloft or Prozac or similar.