Serotonin and Depression: That New Study Isn’t What You Think

A recent study showing that serotonin and depression are not linked has seemingly set the world ablaze, and it is quickly changing the conversation around mental health. However, there's more to the story. Let’s look at exactly what serotonin is and how it works, the validity of this new serotonin research, and what this means for treating depression moving forward. (Hint: the study did NOT show that any therapies or treatments modulating serotonin, like Saint John's Wart or SSRIs, are therefore ineffective)
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[@DrRuscioDC]

Thanks for watching! To take a closer look at how gut health plays into your mental health check out my article: drruscio.com/the-mind-gut-connection/

[@truther001]

The problem is that anti-depressants have been overprescribed. They don't work unless you have a real chemical imbalance. I can't explain what it is but you will know if you have major depression. You may have seen your mother or other close family member live with it their entire lives. Initially resistant to taking antidepressants, I've been on them for almost 30 years and they have changed my life. The problem is finding a psychiatrist who is truly skilled and honest. I got lucky.

[@shawnjudge2705]

There has never been such a thing as a "real chemical imbalance" discovered by modern science. "Anatomy of an Epidemic" by Harvard medical journalist Robert Whitaker covers the literature on this subjuect from the 1960s when the the chemical imbalance theory was first hyposthesized, to the 2000s.

[@Locationary]

I have taken ssri on and off throughout my life, I can say without a doubt they do help. So it's good to hear you speaking out about this. In saying that though I also agree ssri's should be last line of defence against anxiety and depression much like surgery should be for conditions. People should really focus on diet, exercise and meditation first as those will have a proper long term impact on a persons health. What I learned the hard way taking an ssri is itcan make you complacent about taking action in improving your mental health. It was only when I decided to go off them I realised the importance of diet, exercise and meditation. For what it's worth though I do think I did originally need the SSRI as my anxiety was so bad I could barely do anything, I was afraid of leaving my house and would have massive panic attacks. Again this is about education though, get people on the right life style from a young age.

[@DrRuscioDC]

Absolutely. Thank you for sharing your experience. I do think SSRIs are a tool, like many others, except they can be quite divisive. As you said, they can often be the thing that helps make the initial changes and then be adjusted later, so I don't like to be discouraging about them overall. Thanks for watching!

[@Wds__99]

SSRI’s made me kinda numb, with no empathy. But they stop the negative thinking loops in my head. When I came off of ssri I was in a better place as I didn’t return to negative loops. I also think when ssris help people is because they are anti inflammatory. So the real solution is to find your source of inflammation. processed foods, gut overgrowth, stress, no sunlight. I’m also curious about low dose ssri therapy. I read prozac can be helpful at very low doses without the side effects. Doctors seem to prescribe a standard dose no matter your weight or sex.

[@TheLuckyShepherd]

There is also without a doubt, factual scientific evidence that a placebo effect has an impact on people. Have you considered this?

[@shawnjudge2705]

Definitely not going to arrogantly try to assert your experience is invalid, yet I think you will look at the role SSRI's played in your recovery differently once you understand what they actually do to your brain. They do not correct any chemical imbalance, but they do "knock you down". They cause chemical imbalances by gumming up synaptic pathways, atrophy structures in the brain and disconnect communication between brain regions. We can see an obvious correlation between these phenomenon, that can plainly be reffered to as brain damage, and the reduction of symptoms of depression or anxiety in the short term. They essentialy throw a blanket over your cognitive and emotional functioning via brain damage. Of course if you are experiencing intense anxiety, depression or psychoses, and are doped, you will likely experience a relief of those symptoms, it does not mean your healing some inherent chemical imbalance. That being said im thankful you found relief, and hope you continue to pursue a happy life with informed consent on any medications you may consume! 😊

[@karenacosta5128]

I’m glad you mentioned Ssri were useful for us patients. I have been using ssri for almost ten years and they have Malén a huge change in my life. My doctor, friend and family were surprised by the drastic change in my personality before and after taking the medicine. Then I was a fool a quitted the me dice, my friends convinced me I didn’t need my medicine and suffered greatly. Thanks God and my doctor I’m back on my medicine, and slowly getting better… also I was diagnosed with right frontal lobe epilepsy, so I must take sodium valproate and ssri for life. 😅

[@DrRuscioDC]

I'm sorry you had some up and downs, but I'm glad you know what works for you now!

[@williamli7477]

Hi, did you try changing diets too ? I find that cooking seeds oil and noodles changed my emotions, and my anxiety is due to my stomach + intestines discomfort, or pains.

[@karenacosta5128]

@@williamli7477 yes I did, but it is actually a chemistry thing in my head. I had eaten dozen of cookies in my better times and vegetables in my worst. So I don't think my diet is a problem, I think my diet is a reflect of my emotions because I tend to eat more sugar when I'm depressed, meanwhile when I'm ok I eat less sugar in general. For a flew months I was almost vegan and eat soy dairy until my doctor realized I was hypotiroids problems and by eating so much soy I was making thinks worse.

[@anthonycastro2146]

I was able to get off my SSRis using meditation, running, and resolving the issues causing my depression. Best of all, it's all Free and no chemical dependency.

[@mediamedicmedic2093]

When the Pharmaceutical companies pay for all the clinical trials there's a significant conflict of interest!! Many people are harmed by these psychopharmacology drugs!!

[@TheLuckyShepherd]

SSRI and chemical imbalance theory has always been bunk. Oh I have a chemical imbalance, well tell me what should the balance be, what measurements did you take and how much of one or the other am I missing? As soon as you start asking simple questions, you'll feel the pushback and here comes their ego. All offended that everything they've learned and been pushing is a subpar theory. 😅

[@anthonycastro2146]

I think its super important to know how these drugs work. To me, we wouldn't put an airplane in the air unless we knew how it worked to prevent catastrophy. But yet, we put these drugs into millions of people including children's brains without knowing how they work. And isnt it odd that the drug companies response to this study is that "they work" but offer no explanation how? Didn't they design these drugs? Surely they know how they work. Something doesn't seem right here.

[@JZGreengo]

PSSD destroyed my life, after taking Lexapro at 20 years old I have had genital numbness and anorgasmia for 3 years, im 23 now. (Post SSRI Sexual dysfunction)

[@DrRuscioDC]

I'm sorry to hear it. We treat post SSRI symptoms at our clinic. You can learn more here: ruscioinstitute.com/become-a-patient/

[@JZGreengo]

@@DrRuscioDC I don’t want to be treated, looking for a cure but thanks lol By the way not all people benefit from antidepressants, that study is crock of poop lol I love when the health care industry leaves it’s victims behind, really shows how corrupt and ignorant the FDA is and secondly I’m not against SSRIs but when people are harmed, we should investigate and help those people medically to solve what is causing their sexual dysfunction and nerve pain

[@mediamedicmedic2093]

When the Pharmaceutical companies pay for all the clinical trials there's a significant conflict of interest!! Many people are harmed by these psychopharmacology drugs!!

[@Robisquick]

FOR SURE the pharmaceutical and practitioner industry needs to be reformed. There needs to be incentivization with regards to a patient feeling better. Like a monthly subscription to a doctor where if you show signs of being unhealthy, the doctor is paid less, and when a person improves the monthly subscription is a tax for the doctor giving you a comprehensive and successful wellness plan. There was an analogous system to this is China where the doctor would be paid when the patients are improving in symptoms. But that was a long time ago with herbal medicine doctors

[@Randive]

@@JZGreengoyou should be against ssri’s. At least when you are forced by the state to take them or a child. If someone takes it willingly, that’s on them. Nobody should be forced on them though.

[@Mandance]

SSRIS and SNRIs did not help with my depression at all. I found significant or complete reversal with MDMA therapy or Psilocybin for weeks after. I like Dr. Gabor Mates take on antidepressants “We don’t know how they help but it does not signify a lack of something, if someone had social anxiety but drank alcohol and had a reduction of social anxiety, does that mean they have social anxiety due to a lack of alcohol?”

[@DrRuscioDC]

That's a very interesting take. See, I think there's still much we don't understand about depression. The fact that SSRIs do work for so many people is interesting, clearly it's doing something mechanistically that we clearly don't quite understand. So I'm curious to see what come next in the research about depression.

[@PraiseroftheLivinGod]

Is MDMA therapy available in the U.S? I thought Australia was the only country with that treatment modality currently approved.

[@DK-tq3fy]

​@@DrRuscioDCThe STAR D study proved that antidepressants worked very poorly.

[@sundayrunday7586]

I was a vegetarian for 19 years, but started a very clean keto diet 6 years ago which included reintroducing meat, and within a couple of weeks my anxiety and depression had vanished. I now do what’s called an Animal Based diet, but my anxiety and depression never returned. I cut out all grains, polyunsaturated fats, most processed foods, refined sugars, roots, stems, and leaves. My diet now is meat, saturated fats, fruits (including savoury fruits), honey, and some dairy. I also run 4-5 times a week. 😊 I had taken anti anxiety meds, and antidepressants in my 20s and they always made me feel terrible. I lost my creativity. I felt like a robot.

[@DrRuscioDC]

It's great that you were customize a diet for yourself that made you feel great. That's the end goal for everyone! Thanks for sharing. :)

[@Randive]

i know exactly what you’re talking about

[@annadufrene1782]

This has been helpful

[@anthonycastro2146]

I think its time to explore the idea that depression may be an adaptation response as posited by some evolutionary psychologists.