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Review
. 2005 Dec;2(12):e392.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392. Epub 2005 Nov 8.

Serotonin and depression: a disconnect between the advertisements and the scientific literature

Jeffrey R Lacasse  1 , Jonathan Leo
Affiliations
Review

Serotonin and depression: a disconnect between the advertisements and the scientific literature

Jeffrey R Lacasse et al. PLoS Med. 2005 Dec.

Abstract

Many ads for SSRI antidepressants claim that the drugs boost brain serotonin levels. Lacasse and Leo argue there is little scientific evidence to support this claim.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors declare that no competing interests exist and that they received no funding for this work.

Figures

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(Illustration: Margaret Shear, Public Library of Science)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Mintzes B. For and against: Direct to consumer advertising is medicalising normal human experience: For. BMJ. 2002;324:908–909. - PMC - PubMed
    1. International Marketing Services Health. Year-end U.S. Prescription and sales information and commentary. (Connecticut): Fairfield; 2004. International Marketing Services Health Available: http://www.imshealth.com/ims/portal/front/articleC/0,2777,6599_3665_6989.... Accessed 14 October 2005.
    1. Donohue J, Berndt E. Effects of direct-to-consumer advertising on medication choice: The case of antidepressants. J Pub Pol Marketing. 2004;23:115–127.
    1. United Kingdom Parliament. House of Commons health report. London: United Kingdom House of Commons; 2005. Available: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmhealth/42/4.... Accessed 14 October 2005.
    1. Pfizer. Zoloft advertisement. Burbank (California): NBC; 2004 March.

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