This podcast honours the NHS: its people, its purpose, its power.

The Visionary Podcast is Sponsored by Dietapplements – Your Pure, Clean-label Supplements:

https://www.dietapplements.com/

Dr Joanna Moncrieff – Psychiatrist & Professor of Critical & Social Psychiatry at University College London

Dr Joanna Moncrieff is a practising psychiatrist, author, and academic at University College London. As a founding member of the Critical Psychiatry Network, her work challenges the widely accepted ”disease-centred” view of mental health, the idea that psychiatric drugs simply fix chemical imbalances. Instead, she advocates for a ”drug-centred” approach to better understand how these medications actually alter the brain and behaviour. With decades of clinical experience across London, she aims to radically re-evaluate how society conceptualises and manages emotional distress.

Host/Podcaster: Hala Ali

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Introduction

00:01:53 – The Serotonin Myth

00:03:06 – Serotonin's Role and Misinformation

00:04:09 – Serotonin and Sexual Function

00:05:26 – The Assumed Evidence of Antidepressants

00:08:27 – Understanding Serotonin Levels

00:09:35 – Serotonin Measurement and Depression

00:11:45 – The Theory of Depression and Serotonin

00:12:36 – Effects of Antidepressants

00:15:38 – Experiences of Antidepressant Users

00:18:46 – The Biological Cause of Depression

00:19:53 – The Assumption of a Biological Cause

00:26:23 – The Role of Placebo in Depression Treatment

00:28:07 – The Psychoactive Effects of Antidepressants

00:30:20 – The Misinterpretation of Sedation as Recovery

Follow Joanna:

Website – https://joannamoncrieff.com/

X – https://x.com/joannamoncrieff/

Useful Links:

Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth Book link – https://lnk.to/chemicallyimbalanced

Explore the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeFXRuOQ6z8r12D9L8f0lyOYAxdOZRWzY

Music: Chopin – Piano Concerto no. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 – III. Rondo – Vivace (String Quintet arr.)

Disclaimer: The Visionary Podcast features conversations with health professionals purely for educational and informational purposes. There is no financial exchange between the podcast and its guests. All views expressed are those of the health professionals and do not constitute medical advice.