E109 - Is Depression a Medical Illness? (w/ Prof. Joanna Moncrieff)

Joanna Moncrieff is a British psychiatrist, researcher, and professor of critical and social psychiatry at University College London (UCL). She is widely recognised for her critical perspectives on psychiatric medication and the biomedical model of mental health. Her work challenges conventional ideas about the role of drugs like antidepressants and antipsychotics, advocating instead for a nuanced understanding of their effects. She has authored several books, including The Myth of the Chemical Cure , A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Drugs, and Chemically Imbalanced: the Making and Unmaking of the Serotinin Myth and has published numerous academic papers, such as her notable 2022 paper on the serotonin hypothesis of depression.

Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.

Prof. Moncrieff's new book Chemically Imbalanced can be found here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chemically-Imbalanced-Making-Unmaking-Serotonin/dp/180399679X

Studies discussed during the podcast:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01661-0 - the serotonin paper
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-024-02462-3 - critiquing "biological depression"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37778356/ - the RADAR study of anti-psychotics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23824214/ - the Dutch study of anti-psychotic reduction

If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email [email protected] with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.

Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - [email protected] with "Coaching" in the subject line.

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Disclaimer: None of the information discussed in this podcast is intended as individual medical advice, changes to medication plans should always be made via discussion with the prescriber. Abrupt withdrawal of medication can cause serious adverse effects. 

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