Researchers have questioned the widespread use of antidepressants after finding that there is no clear evidence that depression is caused by low serotonin levels.
The new review of existing studies found that the condition is not likely caused by a chemical imbalance and said people should be made aware of other options for treating depression. However, other experts, including from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP), urged people not to stop taking their medication in light of the findings, and argued that antidepressants are effective.
NHS figures show that the number of people in England taking antidepressants continues to rise, with 8.3 million patients receiving them in 2021/22, a 6% rise on the previous year when the figure was 7.9 million. Overall, an estimated 83.4 million antidepressant drug items were prescribed in 2021/22, a 5% jump on the previous year.
