Are ADHD and mood disorders caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain?
False
ADHD and mood disorders like depression and anxiety are caused by a lack or imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Medications restore the brain’s normal chemical balance.
True
ADHD, depression, and anxiety are most likely caused by a complex interaction of genetic, environmental, neurochemical, and psychosocial factors, and are best treated using a holistic, “biopsychosocial” approach, which may include medication.
Different medications may work for different people, or not appear to work well at all. While their therapeutic effect appears to be associated with modifying brain chemistry, this doesn’t mean that they are fixing a chemical imbalance or that neurotransmitter levels themselves are the proximate cause of the disorder.
Sources
- About “Chemical Imbalance” Theory – Dr Yasser Ad-Dab’bagh
- The Myth of the Chemical Imbalance – Dr Ronald Pies
- Image: “Neurotransmitters” by Scientific Animations is licensed with CC BY SA 4.0.
