The "chemical imbalance" explanation for depression: Origins, lay endorsement, and clinical implications.

Abstract

When a client asks whether her or his depression is caused by a chemical imbalance, how do you respond? Depression is regularly depicted in popular media as resulting from a “chemical imbalance ” and this depiction raises a number of interesting questions for practicing clinicians. How accurate is the chemical imbalance explanation for depression? How widely do laypersons agree with the explanation, and how do they interpret the explanation? We discuss the origins, accuracy, and transmittal (e.g., via direct-to-consumer advertising) of the chemical imbalance explanation for depression. We next present results from a group case study examining lay endorsement and interpretation of the explanation. Finally, we discuss clinical implications and present a short script for educating clients concerning “chemical imbalances ” in depression.