Serotonin hypothesis of depression: balance (and imbalance) is in the eye of the beholder

Sadness,And,Loneliness,Concept.,Despaired,,Stressed,Woman,Body,3d,Rendering.

The 2022 review by Moncrieff et al on the serotonin theory of depression received a great deal of media coverage. In this blog, Rebecca Wilkinson and Sameer Jauhar shed fresh light on this research and what it means for mental health science and practice.

[read the full story...]

Antidepressants, cognition, and emotional blunting: what’s the evidence?

Psychology,Therapy,Concept,As,A,Doctor,Holding,A,Red,Block

Angharad de Cates reviews a recent Danish trial, which finds that escitalopram reduced participants’ reinforcement sensitivity compared to those on placebo. This lower reinforcement sensitivity may be similar to the emotional blunting effect often reported by patients during SSRI treatment.

[read the full story...]

The benefits and harms of antidepressants for youth depression and anxiety #ActiveIngredientsMH

Sad,Teenager,Girl

Mark Horowitz and Joanna Moncrieff consider a new #ActiveIngredientsMH review published today in The Lancet Psychiatry, which looks at the knowns and unknowns of antidepressant treatment in young people with depression and anxiety: efficacy, predictors, and mechanisms of action.

[read the full story...]

Antidepressants for youth depression: Cochrane review confirms they should not be the first port of call

Pharmaceutical medicine pills, tablets and capsules on mint background. Top view. Flat lay. Copy space. Medicine concepts. Minimalistic abstract concept. Neo mint color

Susannah Murphy summarises a new Cochrane review and network meta-analysis, which provides the best evidence to date about new generation antidepressants for depression in children and adolescents.

[read the full story...]

Antidepressants and psychotherapy for adolescent depression: can they be compared? #ActiveIngredientsMH

hendrik-kespohl-eD_YBIPNV3o-unsplash

Catherine Harmer summarises a recent network meta-analysis relating to her own Wellcome Trust funded research into antidepressants for young people with anxiety or depression.

[read the full story...]

In adults with major depression, antidepressants may increase the risk of suicide

shutterstock_409500925

Douglas Badenoch explores a meta-analysis of follow-up data from clinical trials of antidepressants, which found a small but significant increase in suicide risk.

[read the full story...]

Higher doses of antidepressants “not optimal”, according to new review

shutterstock_322041725

Jonathon Tomlinson considers his options as a GP supporting people with depression and complex needs, after reading a new systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis, which suggests that higher doses of antidepressants bring maximum side effects with only marginal gains.

[read the full story...]

Antidepressant withdrawal: slower and lower tapering of SSRIs

shutterstock_322041725

A group of UCL Masters Students summarise a recent personal view by Mark Horowitz and David Taylor about tapering of SSRI treatment to mitigate antidepressant withdrawal symptoms.

[read the full story...]

SSRIs and suicidality: effects of SSRIs on rating-scale-assessed suicidality in adults with depression

sam-austin-266386-unsplash

Rina Dutta and Patrick McLaughlin summarise a new study looking at the effects of SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) on rating-scale-assessed suicidality in adults with depression.

This study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry supports the conclusion that SSRIs remain a safe and effective treatment in depression for those aged 18 and over.

[read the full story...]

What causes emotional blunting in people taking antidepressants? Results from a survey

joshua-k-jackson-417419

Linda Gask looks at a recent survey of people with depression that explores their experiences of emotional blunting. The research finds that nearly half of depressed patients on antidepressants report significant emotional blunting, but it’s impossible to say whether this is caused by their medication or the depression itself.

[read the full story...]