Long-Time Claims About Depression Challenged

New research shows that depression is probably not caused by a depletion of serotonin as once previously believed. The journal published by Molecular Psychiatry states that depression resulting from a chemical imbalance is still influential but hypothetical.

Research conducted in this study found that serotonin receptors were no different in people with depression and people without depression, and that serotonin activity was actually higher in people with depression. These receptors influence several biological and neurological processes, such as aggression, anxiety, appetite, cognition, learning, memory, mood, nausea, sleep, and thermoregulation.

SSRI antidepressants, a long-time treatment for depression, temporarily increase the availability of serotonin in the brain.