For decades, millions have been told a simple story: depression is caused by a chemical imbalance—specifically, low serotonin—and antidepressants correct it. But what if that story was never true?

In this powerful and urgent episode of Moral Medicine, psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Joanna Moncrieff joins us to expose how one of the most influential myths in modern medicine took hold—and the profound harm it's caused.

Dr. Moncrieff is a professor at University College London, a consultant psychiatrist, and co-founder of the Critical Psychiatry Network. In 2022, she led a landmark review of the serotonin theory of depression and found no consistent evidence that low serotonin causes the condition—despite this being a message repeated to patients, plastered in advertisements, and echoed by trusted doctors.

We dive deep into:

• The origins of the chemical imbalance theory—and how it became pharmaceutical marketing gold
• The complicity of psychiatry in promoting a narrative it quietly knew was weak
• What antidepressants are actually doing to the brain (and why we still don’t fully understand it)The disturbing realities of emotional blunting, physical dependence, and long-term withdrawalThe growing crisis of PSSD (Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction) and why it’s so underacknowledgedWhy psychiatry remains defensive—and what this resistance says about systemic moral failure
• The path forward: de-medicalizing emotional suffering and building an honest system of care

At Moral Medicine, we document stories and research that mainstream medicine ignores. We speak with patients, whistleblowers, and experts to shine a light on the darker side of modern healthcare—and to push for a future grounded in truth, accountability, and compassion.

If you or someone you love has ever felt gaslit, dismissed, or harmed by psychiatric medications, this conversation is essential.

🧠 Order Dr. Moncrieff’s book Chemically Imbalanced

📚 Learn more about her work: joannamoncrieff.com

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