From The Carlat Psychiatry Blog, ,

Dr. Daniel Carlat recently appeared on NPR/WBUR’s On Point to discuss a systematic review by Moncrieff and colleagues who investigated whether low levels of serotonin cause depression. The review concludes that: “There is no convincing evidence that depression is associated with, or caused by, lower serotonin concentrations or activity.”

During the hour-long program, host Meghna Chakrabarti and Dr. Carlat discuss whether this evidence means that antidepressants don’t work … or if they simply don’t work the way pharmaceutical companies said they did in their marketing materials. 

Dr. Carlat’s thoughts throughout the program are focused on helping patients get relief from depression. “Certainly as a practicing psychiatrist, I see these medications working all the time,” he says, adding that “it is true that we are humbled when it comes to our actual knowledge of the mechanisms, especially of the antidepressants.”

The discussion culminates in both Dr. Carlat and Chakrabarti describing their first-hand experiences taking antidepressants and how it was effective in treating their depression.

Listen to the full program here and read the transcript at Behind the new study changing how doctors view depression.