About this episode

Dr. Joanna Moncrieff discusses the misconceptions surrounding antidepressant drugs and the true nature of depression.

Show notes: (0:00) Intro (1:05) Dr. Joanna Moncrieff and the serotonin myth (2:45) How SSRIs were marketed and what the research found (8:58) What may really cause depression (13:16) Trials, placebo, and emotional numbing (19:46) Withdrawal, dependence, and long-term risks (27:50) Concerns about teens on SSRIs (29:53) Better ways to help people with depression (37:43) Final takeaway (39:42) Where to find Dr. Moncrieff Who is Dr. Joanna Moncrieff? Dr. Joanna Moncrieff is a psychiatrist, academic, and author. She is a Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London and also works as a consultant psychiatrist in North East London. Her work focuses on the history, philosophy, and politics of psychiatry, especially how psychiatric drugs are used, understood, and explained to the public. She is also a founding member and co-chair of the Critical Psychiatry Network. Dr. Moncrieff is known for her research and writing on antidepressants and psychiatric medication, and her recent book, Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth, examines the history of the serotonin theory of depression and the evidence behind it. Connect with Dr. Joanna…

People in this episode

Guest: Dr Joanna Moncrieff

Topics covered

• antidepressants
• SSRIs
• depression
• mental health
• psychiatry

Keywords

• serotonin myth
• emotional numbing
• withdrawal
• long-term risks
• teens on SSRIs

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth

Books & works: Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth

Places: East London

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