Exciting new depression study

This will and should change the face of mental health treatment. An umbrella study looking at a multitude od studies as well as meta-analyses has found that anti-depressants appear not to be effective for depression. This is because depression, according to the research, is not neurochemical in nature but rather situational, meaning typically accompanying a co-occurring disorder and treatable with talk therapy.

Depression, as it always has, is best treated through cognitive behavioral therapy leading to life and perception changes, which in turn lead to new behaviors. This is great material to discuss with your mental health professional or doctor. To read the study:

The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence
J. Moncrieff, R. Cooper, T. Stockmann, S. Amendola, M. Hengartner & M. Horowitz
Conclusion, in part:
The main areas of serotonin research provide no consistent evidence of there being an association between serotonin and depression, and no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity or concentrations. Some evidence was consistent with the possibility that long-term antidepressant use reduces serotonin concentration.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01661-0

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Thevy29 · 41-45, M

I have had anxiety and depression for most of my life, I just didn't know it for what it was till I was in my mid 20's. It has led to bouts of Suicidal thoughts and attempts. The last one was 5 years ago. I knew I needed help. The Doctor wanted Talk therapy, the therapist said Drugs. The Therapist was due annual leave and told me she deal with me when she got back. So No talk therapy, no drugs, plenty of trucks on the road to walk into... I went to the pound and adopted the dog animal they were going to put down that week. A few weeks later I got another one.

Graylight · 51-55, F

@Thevy29 The Gold Standard right now, should anyone wonder, is CBT as a primary focus and medications for symptom management.

And SSRI might or might not make you more focused or happier, but it's not going to take away that source of depression. Only therapy will do that.

Or for the lucky few, God's own therapy in the form of other loving creatures. It's actually a strong and growing segment of therapy work (but not in the form of "emotional support animals" - that's mostly about just taking your pet around for free).