Revisiting the "Chemical Imbalance" Hypothesis of Depression

The "chemical imbalance" hypothesis, which attributes depression to deficiencies in neurotransmitters such as serotonin, has been extensively disproven by recent neuroscientific research. Despite historically shaping public understanding and antidepressant marketing, no consistent biological evidence supports this simplistic explanation. Contemporary research instead reveals depression as a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors, including neuroplasticity, chronic inflammation, genetic predisposition, and environmental stressors. While antidepressants remain beneficial for many, they likely function by promoting neural adaptations rather than correcting an underlying chemical deficit. Consequently, the chemical imbalance theory is now considered outdated, with modern psychiatry endorsing more nuanced and multifaceted explanations of depression.