Serotonin

A team lead by Dr Joanna Moncrief at University College London (UCL), investigated all aspects of the link between serotonin and depression.   Their review looked at:

• Serotonin and its breakdown products in brain and blood fluids – no connection was found to those with or without depression.
• Investigating serotonin receptors – this showed almost no link to levels of depression, or they indicated that a raised level of serotonin was more likely in depressed patients, the opposite expected impact.
• Serotonin transporters – once again an opposite effect was noted, with raised serotonin levels seen in depressed patients. These study results were questionable, since some participants were taking anti-depressants at the time, or had been in the past.
• Studies that artificially lowered serotonin levels in healthy volunteers, did not show the expected increase in depression. Only a small study (75 people) showed a link, however many had a family history of depression.
• Studies looking at gene variations, in particular the gene responsible for the serotonin transporters again showed no significant link to depression.

No evidence found to support antidepressants

No study reviewed provided evidence to show a link between depression and serotonin levels.  This leads to the conclusion that there is little or no evidence to support the use of SSRI antidepressants.

Antidepressants may act to numb emotions generally, however it is unclear if this has a positive or negative impact on depression.

The authors of the report state that it is important that those currently taking SSRI antidepressants do not stop, without consulting with your doctor first. 

Paper

Moncrieff, J., Cooper, R.E., Stockmann, T. et al. The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Mol Psychiatry (2022).

Published
20 July 2022

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0

UPDATE:

Video discussion of this paper can be found here:

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