Serotonin Theory
The serotonin theory originally proposed a deficit in serotonin as the primary cause of depression. According to this theory, depression can be adequately managed with antidepressants (Carhart-Harris, 2018). Post-mortem, neuroimaging, and other studies have consistently linked the pathophysiology of major depressive disorders with a range of functional abnormalities of serotonin neurotransmission in the brain (Carhart-Harris, 2018). The serotonin theory of depression has been modified to account for new findings and existing inconsistencies. For example, a transient reduction in serotonin achieved experimentally in healthy people does not significantly impact their mood (Carhart-Harris, 2018). In addition, data indicate that some patients do not benefit from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This paper evaluates a scientific article by Moncrieff et al. (2022) and a secondary source by Dury (2022). The hypothesis for the study by Moncrieff et al. (2022) states that serotonin does not play a role in the etiology of depression. This hypothesis is presented correctly in the media source.
Methods
The article by Moncrieff et al. (2022) has an elaborate study method. This includes a selection strategy and inclusion and exclusion criteria. The search strategy entailed conducting systematic reviews of published articles with pertinent evidence on the association between serotonin and depression. The authors retrieved their information from online medical databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, Healthcare Databases Advanced Search tool, PsycINFO, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Moncrieff et al. (2022) used an inclusion criterion to select the best evidence-based articles. Examples of the article’s inclusion criteria include peer-reviewed journals, studies involving human subjects, articles with experimental procedures, systemic reviews, and meta-analyses. The article excluded studies involving animals or depression in individuals with comorbidities. The article included all articles regardless of the year of publication and the language used to publish the articles. On the other hand, the media source posted by Dury (2022) fails to provide an elaborate study method.
Data Analysis Method
The scientific article by Moncrieff et al. (2022) details the data analysis method. According to the authors, data extraction was done by independent reviewers. Data accuracy and reliability were upheld by contacting the authors of the journal articles and via consensus. Additionally, the authors used various tools to rate the quality of the journal articles. These tools include the Strengthening the Reporting of Genetic Association Studies (STREGA) and a Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR-2). The STREGA tool was used in genetic-associated studies.
Moncrieff et al. (2022) formulated six criteria to rate the certainty of findings of the journal articles. They include whether a unified analysis of the original data was performed, whether antidepressant use-related confounding was adequately addressed, whether the results were pre-specified, whether the results were consistent, whether there was a chance of publication bias, and an evaluation of the sample size. On the other hand, the media article by Dury (2022) does not include the data analysis method. The media article only highlights the findings of the scientific article. The ratings were done independently by different authors. The authors determined the certainty of each study using an algorithm that emphasized sample size and uniform analysis. More than two authors have chosen the ultimate certainty.
Results
Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Accordingly, thirty-one percent of these articles addressed the problems of publishing bias, whereas 50 percent accounted for the likelihood of bias. Findings by Moncrieff et al. (2022) indicate that three studies met the inclusion criteria to investigate serotonin and its metabolite, 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid. According to the authors, one of the studies involving post-menopausal women with depression identified low plasma levels of serotonin. These low plasma levels of serotonin were associated with the use of antidepressants rather than the disease (depression). Furthermore, the other two meta-analysis studies involving serotonin and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid did not establish a correlation between 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid concentrations and depression. These findings are demonstrated in the table below.
According to the authors, studies involving serotonin receptors yielded similar results. Two meta-analysis studies involving healthy individuals and subjects with depression failed to establish a positive relationship between depression and serotonin receptors. As such, these findings suggest that serotonin does not play a significant role in depression. Studies involving the serotonin transporter protein (SERT) identified the likelihood of a decrease in serotonin transporter protein in people with depression. However, these studies failed to evaluate the impact of antidepressants (taken by the respondents) on the serotonin transporter protein. Studies involving tryptophan depletion were unable to establish a positive correlation between tryptophan depletion and depression. Studies involving serotonin transporter genes did not show a positive correlation between depression and gene polymorphism.
Further, the findings by Moncrieff et al. (2022) did not establish a positive correlation between low serotonin levels and depression. According to the authors, the Serotonin Theory of depression impacts the management of the condition. This theory suggests that depression may be a lifelong condition. As such, patients become dependent on antidepressant medication. The authors argue that the serotonin theory cannot be justified empirically. Further research should be conducted to identify the impact of antidepressants on the serotonin system.
On the other hand, the media article by Dury (2022) did not provide a comprehensive review of the scientific article. Dury’s (2022) media article fails to detail the study method, data analysis, and key findings. Consequently, this may give a distorted representation of the conclusions of the scientific article. Essentially, the media article focused on the criticism of the scientific article rather than the objective analysis of key findings. As a result, the general public will likely focus on the criticism rather than the conclusions of the scientific article. Quality reporting by media articles should analyze a scientific article objectively. This entails providing adequate details without deviating from the article’s key findings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, scientific news reports should remain objective to avoid the distortion of information. Notably, scientific evidence by Moncrieff et al. (2022) failed to establish a relationship between depression and serotonin levels. Essentially, the findings by Moncrieff et al. (2022) are based on systematic reviews of journal articles from various online medical databases. The articles evaluate various aspects entailing the relationships of depression with serotonin, 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid, serotonin receptors, serotonin transporter protein, and serotonin transporter gene. Additionally, the article by Moncrieff et al. (2022) systematically represents information by identifying the method of study, data analysis, and detailed findings. On the other hand, the media article by Dury (2022) does not capture detailed information, which increases the possibility of data distortion. Further scientific research should be conducted to evaluate the relationship between serotonin and depression.
References
Carhart-Harris, R. L. (2018). Serotonin, psychedelics, and psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 17(3), 358–359. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20555
Dury, J. (2022). Study on serotonin and depression sparks fierce debate. https://news.yahoo.com/study-serotonin-depression-sparks-fierce-100736982.html
Moncrieff, J., Cooper, R. E., Stockmann, T., Amendola, S., Hengartner, M. P., & Horowitz, M. A. (2022). The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Molecular Psychiatry, June 2021, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0
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Question 
Journal 1 Instructions
The student will compose a brief essay comparing and contrasting scientific communication, including science’s role in contemporary society (DSL 200.1), distinguishing between science and pseudoscience, and identifying when science is misrepresented in the media (DSL 200.3). The scientific data must be from a reputable source (s) and accurately interpreted and cited (DSL 200.4). Additional reliable sources may be referred to as needed or required.
Serotonin Theory
The first source listed at the bottom is a news article discussing the primary study listed below. The best strategy is first to read and understand the abstract of the scientific research. Abstracts often contain summaries of all parts of the scientific method. Further details can be uncovered by reading the paper, but most information required for the assignment can be found in the abstract. It is recommended that students attempt to read the entire scientific paper to understand the details of the study. The paper may have scientific jargon, so do your best to look up terms and notations commonly used to understand what the study is discussing thoroughly. If further help is needed to understand the jargon, please reach out, and I will do my best to assist.
Once students read and understand the study, they should read the news article reporting its details. Students should then be able to evaluate how effectively the information is communicated to the lay public in the news article. Students should look for any inaccuracies, omissions, or misrepresentations in the news article and point them out with specific examples. Incidents of well-reported study sections should also be highlighted with examples where possible.Introduction-1 paragraph
Start with an engaging attention-getter, and introduce the topic of the paper by identifying the scientific observations/problems addressed by the media communication and in the scientific communication;
Identify which source is the media or secondary source and which source is the scientific or primary source;
Write a valid hypothesis statement for the scientific article/study and explain if the hypothesis is presented correctly in the media source;
Body-4-6 paragraphs
Compare and contrast each of the remaining sections of the scientific method, including research methods (experiment or methods & materials), results including data table/chart analysis (Note: I require one data chart at minimum from the scientific study to be included in the paper along with the student’s interpretation of the data), and research conclusions comparing what is stated in the media source and the scientific source, and then noting how they’re the same or different;
Provide a summary of the quality of reporting based on the compare and contrast analysis, keeping in mind that while a scientific news report does not have to be as detailed as the study it’s based on, it does need to provide good detail and context of the information for the reader (please refer to lecture materials on this subject presented in the communications module);
Conclusion-1 paragraph
Move into a conclusion by providing a transition statement that indicates the paper is wrapping up.
Summarize the key points in your paper, focusing on the compare and contrast analysis and the summary of the quality of journalism.
Have a definitive closing statement that wraps up your paper meaningfully without making any new claims.