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Debunking depression theories, with Professor Joanna Moncrieff
Season 18 · Episode 9

Debunking depression theories, with Professor Joanna Moncrieff

Age Better with Liz Earle · Liz Earle

September 15, 202346m 0s

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Show Notes

Have you or someone close to you been affected by depression? Psychiatrist and academic Professor Joanna Moncrieff joins Liz on this episode of the podcast to ‘debunk’ the chemical imbalance theory of depression.


In this episode, Joanna covers her review of studies on Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), one of the main medications prescribed to those with depression. Her review concluded that there’s ‘no clear evidence’ that low serotonin causes depression in the first place.


Liz and Joanna discuss how anti-depressants may alter 'normal' mental states and their little-discussed side-effects, plus the role of nature versus nurture in depression. Joanna also reveals why we may need to demedicalise depression, and instead see it as an emotional reaction that needs to be understood rather than medicated.


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