Additionally, people with depression who took antidepressants were actually found to have lower serotonin blood levels in the long term.
Now, the researchers are questioning what antidepressants really do and hoping to raise awareness among the public. According to a UCL press release, between eighty-five and ninety percent of the public believe that low serotonin or chemical imbalances cause depression.
And aside from these beliefs being scientifically false, they can also cause patients to be pessimistic about recovery.
In turn, Moncrieff is urging medical professionals to inform patients of these findings and be transparent about treatment options.
“Our view is that patients should not be told that depression is caused by low serotonin or by a chemical imbalance, and they should not be led to believe that antidepressants work by targeting these unproven abnormalities,” Moncrieff began.
“We do not understand what antidepressants are doing to the brain exactly, and giving people this sort of misinformation prevents them from making an informed decision about whether to take antidepressants or not,” she continued.
Nonetheless, the researchers also caution current antidepressant users to consult a medical professional before discontinuing the use of their prescription in order to protect against adverse withdrawal effects.
And moving forward, they hope this review has opened doors for further research into other treatment options including, stress and trauma management, psychotherapy, and more.
To read the complete study’s findings published in Molecular Psychiatry, visit the link here.
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