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Depression: Antidepressants make you unhappy


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The effect of antidepressants is controversial . Again and again, the psychiatric medications have been associated with side effects such as sleep disorders, anxiety and cardiovascular problems. Exaggerated or true?

Depression is one of the worst mental illnesses. It is estimated that four million Germans suffer from it - both men and women. Many of them are treated with antidepressants. They should raise the mood and take fears. Psychologist Paul Andrews of McMaster University in Ohio found exactly the opposite. In truth, antidepressants should not make you happy but unhappy .

How is a depression?

Depression is triggered by a low level of serotonin. The big problem: Serotonin has a significant impact on our mood. Depressed people have a significant lack of serotonin and consequently suffer from anxiety and bad mood. What helps now: antidepressants. They are intended to supplement the imbalance of the missing hormone.

Paul Andrews claims exactly the opposite: depression is not caused by a serotonin deficiency, but by an excess of serotonin. The reason: Serotonin do not make happy, but unhappy. Treating a patient with antidepressants does not make his mood better, but worse. A serotonin excess arises.

The results of Andrews are controversial, his investigations will be followed by others. And until then, we continue to rely on existing research results.

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