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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Pinkstarburst · F

Thank you for sharing. Today I will continue taking my meds, attending my therapy sessions, exercising, watching my diet, mindfully writing my thoughts in my journal, using light therapy, spending every moment managing my emotions and pinpointing why I’m reacting the way I am, and telling myself that today is not a good day for my husband to find me on the floor with my throat slit and a knife in my hand.

But maybe tomorrow I’ll try what this report says.

Spumoni · 46-50, M

@Pinkstarburst ^^^this^^^

Graylight · 51-55, F

@Pinkstarburst This report doesn't suggest any of that doesn't work. But anti-depressants are a racket and have been for 40 years.

Pinkstarburst · F

@Graylight Racket or not, they are essential for keeping me on the planet.

Spumoni · 46-50, M

@Pinkstarburst I do 40mg of Prozac. Keeps me on the level. 20 barely did anything for me

Graylight · 51-55, F

@Pinkstarburst @Pinkstarburst I'm just passing along a major new study. I'm not prepared in any way to agree or disagree with it. It does, though, confirm what most of us know - that depression resolves when other problems begin to resolve. Mostly.

@Spumoni Prozac works for you because it's altering your mood. It only ameliorates symptoms; it's not actually curing you of anything.

Pinkstarburst · F

@Graylight Thanks. Just like any disease without a cure, medications do help some people live day to day. Depression has always been a touchy subject and difficult disease to diagnose. The medical field has just dumped any mental struggle into the “depression” basket. Sadly, it’s much like they do with autism. They just lump a bunch of symptoms together out of laziness and give it a general name. The fact that anyone is doing some kind of research is always good to know.

Graylight · 51-55, F

@Pinkstarburst Very true. We often say, "Half of everything I'm saying to you is absolutely correct; problem is, we're not sure which half." Science evolves and because of that, our response to the world around us and within us changes constantly.

I will caution, though, that this is among the largest sturdy of its kind done on depression and has taken into account dozens of studies as well as meta-analyses research projects. It's a big deal. If serotonin isn't responsible for depression (in the way we thought), then the drugs that alter serotonin (SSRI's) simply won't have an effect.

Pinkstarburst · F

@Graylight I can only pray that a cure is found in my lifetime. The drugs I take allow my serotonin to last longer, not make more. That’s done by by the work I have to do on my own. It’s a delicate balance and one that can be exhausting.

Graylight · 51-55, F

@Pinkstarburst Yeah, a cure is the only thing that will ever truly give sufferers of depression any relief. It's a terrifying, dark lonely place to be.

PhoenixPhail · M

@Pinkstarburst PLEASE don't let your husband or anyone else find you like that. 🙏 ❤️ 🫂

Pinkstarburst · F

@PhoenixPhail Never. I made a promise to him and my family.