Doubts over the real cause of depression

It is claimed by some that the belief that depression is caused by a reduction in levels of the brain chemical called serotonin may not be right. Thus, it is feasible that the idea that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can heal depression may also be inaccurate. Proponents of the idea believe that a genetic fault in liver enzymes may inhibit metabolization of the drug resulting in a toxic build up that can lead to adverse reactions such as suicidal tendencies. History has repeatedly shown that health ideas promoted are not necessarily always accurate. For example, postmenopausal women were previously encouraged to take hormones for their health but now they are informed that the hormones may increase their risk of heart attacks and cancer. Some believe there is not enough evidence to support the serotonin idea and people may be taking medications which may not only be ineffective, but may also cause side effects such as impotence, constipation, yawning and other psychiatric disorders such as the recently highlighted suicidal tendencies. Irish authority's skepticism of the benefits of serotonin reuptake inhibitors is expressed by the fact that drug companies are not allowed to promote the theory that chemical imbalances in the brain level of serotonin are responsible for depression.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by The News Tribune

Related Disease Topics:

• Depression
• Suicide
• Psychiatric disorder
• Menopause
• Heart attack
• Cancer
• Impotence
• Constipation
• Yawning

Article Source Details

About: Doubts over the real cause of depression

Date: 26 January 2005

Source: The News Tribune

Author: M. Alexander Otto

URL: http://www.thenewstribune.com/soundlife/story/4480722p-4217757c.html

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Psychological disorder
• Cause of depression
• Cause of suicide
• Cause of psychiatric disorder
• Cause of menopause
• Cause of heart attack
• Cause of cancer
• Cause of impotence
• Cause of constipation
• Cause of yawning
• Risk and depression
• Risk and suicide
• Risk and psychiatric disorder
• Risk and menopause
• Risk and heart attack
• Risk and cancer
• Risk and impotence
• Risk and constipation
• Risk and yawning
• Side effect
• Side effect and menopause
• Side effect and heart attack
• Side effect and cancer
• Side effect and impotence
• Side effect and constipation
• Side effect and yawning
• Side effect and depression
• Side effect and suicide
• Medication
• Medication and depression
• Medication and suicide
• Medication and psychiatric disorder
• Medication and menopause
• Medication and heart attack
• Medication and cancer
• Medication and impotence
• Medication and constipation
• Medication and yawning
• Diagnosis
• Diagnosis and depression
• Disgnosis and psychiatric disorder
• Diagnosis and psychological disorder

More News Topics

Search Specialists by State and City