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Published online 8 November 2005 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news051107-2
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Drug ads slammed for being sadly misleading
Article attacks claims that antidepressants restore serotonin levels.
Can depression be explained by a simple chemical imbalance in the brain? A pair of researchers has complained that the evidence for this is weak, and that drug companies should not be allowed to push this message in their advertisements.
After being bombarded by messages that depression is caused by the lack of a certain chemical in the brain, say the researchers, patients may be sceptical of other kinds of treatment, including other drugs and talking to a therapist.
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