A new, large-scale review of studies finds no link between serotonin levels in the brain and depression. So, why do antidepressants work?
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The authors of the new study also raise a counterintuitive possibility: In the long term, SSRIs might actually reduce serotonin levels in the brain. This would be due to the brain—which is plastic and can change over time—adjusting to the presence of the SSRIs. Some studies have found that people who take SSRIs over a long period of time actually have lower levels of serotonin, suggesting that taking the medication might lead the brain to produce less serotonin naturally.
Harmer, C. J., Duman, R. S., & Cowen, P. J. . How do antidepressants work? New perspectives for refining future treatment approaches. The Lancet Psychiatry, 4, 409-418.
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