DEPRESSION IS MISUNDERSTOOD

As many as 90% of the public believe that depression is caused by low serotonin or a chemical imbalance – and no wonder, it’s what scientists have told us for a long time. But now a landmark research review suggests we may have it all wrong. It found no evidence to suggest that depression is linked to serotonin levels or activity.

Most antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIS), which work to ‘balance’ these chemicals, so if this isn’t an issue in the first place, how do they help us? We don’t have an answer for that – yet – but when it comes to why we get depression, the study found that stressful life events did increase risk. In these cases, treatments focused on therapy, exercise, mindfulness, or addressing other factors such as financial strain or loneliness, should also be advised.

With one in six adults prescribed antidepressants each year, they remain an effective option if you’re struggling, but the way they work may be less clear-cut than once thought.