395. Is depression just a chemical imbalance?

The idea that depression is caused by a "chemical imbalance" is one of the most widely accepted explanations in modern mental health ... but is it actually true? In this bonus episode, we unpack where the chemical imbalance theory came from, how it became the dominant narrative around depression, and why many researchers today believe the story is far more complicated. Including: The academic and applied history of this theory What research says about antidepressants vs placebo Why the "low serotonin" explanation may be too simple The psychological and social drivers of depression Why meaning, connection, and environment matter for mental health Why depression treatment often works best when it's multi-layered Happy listening! Watch on Netflix Follow Jemma on Instagram: @ jemmasbeg Follow the podcast on Instagram: @ thatpsychologypodcast

You can listen to 395. Is depression just a chemical imbalance? online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

395. Is depression just a chemical imbalance? is an episode from The Psychology of your 20’s by iHeartPodcasts.

This episode is 32:43 long.

This episode was published on Mar 15, 2026.

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