Beyond Chemical Reductionism

A landmark systematic umbrella review by University College London researchers published in Molecular Psychiatry found no solid scientific evidence supporting the serotonin theory of depression, challenging the foundational "chemical imbalance" hypothesis underlying SSRI treatment and opening new avenues for alternative therapeutic approaches.

This essay examines how the collapse of the chemical imbalance theory validates embodied medicine approaches to depression that recognize the inseparable unity of mind, body, and environment, moving beyond Cartesian dualism toward holistic healing paradigms.

We synthesize findings from the UCL review with phenomenological research, embodied cognitive science, and integrative healing approaches, drawing particularly on the work of Thomas Fuchs, Kevin Aho, and Julian Ungar-Sargon's critique of reductionist medicine.