A recent study looked at the “Effects of a chemical imbalance causal explanation on individuals’ perceptions of their depressive symptoms.”
A group of participants was given “a bogus but credible biological test demonstrating their depressive symptoms to be caused, or not caused, by a chemical imbalance in the brain”.
“Results showed that chemical imbalance test feedback failed to reduce self-blame, elicited worse prognostic pessimism and negative mood regulation expectancies, and led participants to view pharmacotherapy as more credible and effective than psychotherapy. The present findings add to a growing literature highlighting the unhelpful and potentially iatrogenic effects of attributing depressive symptoms to a chemical imbalance.”
In short, it might be harmful to believe that you have a chemical imbalance. A diagnosis of “depression caused by chemical imbalance” might cause depression.
Study authors:
Joshua J. Kempa, James J. Lickelb, Brett J. Deacona
