What is a chemical imbalance in the brain? A chemical imbalance in the brain is said to occur when there’s either too much or too little of certain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, in the brain. Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that help facilitate communication between your nerve cells. Examples include norepinephrine and serotonin. It’s often said that mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The hypothesis is sometimes called the chemical imbalance hypothesis or chemical imbalance theory. If you’re wondering if the symptoms you’re having are caused by a chemical imbalance, it’s important to know that there’s quite a bit of controversy surrounding this theory. In fact, the medical community has largely refuted this theory. Researchers argue that the chemical imbalance hypothesis is more of a figure of speech. It doesn’t really capture the true complexity of these conditions. In other words, mental health conditions aren’t simply caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. There’s a lot more to them.

What are the symptoms of a chemical imbalance in the brain? Scientists in the late 1950s first proposed the idea that mental health conditions are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Research at the time had focused on the role that chemicals in the brain play in depression and anxiety. These researchers hypothesized that lower than normal levels of neurotransmitters can lead to symptoms such as: feelings of sadness, helplessness, worthlessness, or emptiness

overeating or loss of appetite

insomnia or sleeping too much

restlessness

irritability

a feeling of impending doom or danger

lack of energy

distancing yourself from others

feeling numbness or lacking empathy

extreme mood swings

thoughts of hurting yourself or others

being unable to carry out day-to-day activities

hearing voices in your head

alcohol or drug misuse

an inability to concentrate

What causes a person to have a chemical imbalance in the brain? The exact cause of mental disorders is still unclear. According to the Mayo Clinic, researchers believe that genetics as well as environmental and social factors, such as stress or trauma, play a role. The chemical imbalance theory is unproven and often cited as an explanation for mental health conditions. It states that these conditions are caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters between nerve cells in the brain. For example, depression is said to be a result of having too little serotonin in the brain. But the theory doesn’t explain how these chemicals become unbalanced in the first place. As Harvard Medical School reports, there are likely millions of different chemical reactions occurring in the brain at any given time. These reactions are responsible for a person’s mood and overall feelings. There would be no way to tell if someone truly had a chemical imbalance in their brain at a given time. The most common evidence used to support the chemical imbalance theory is the effectiveness of antidepressant medications. These medications work by increasing the amounts of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain. However, just because a person’s mood can be elevated with drugs that increase brain chemicals doesn’t mean that their symptoms were caused by a deficiency in that chemical in the first place. It’s also possible that low serotonin levels are just another symptom of depression, not the cause. Many people with depression don’t get better after being treated with these types of medications. One study estimates that current antidepressants on the market only work in about 50 percent of those with depression.

Is there a test to identify a chemical imbalance in the brain? There are no reliable tests available to find out if you have a chemical imbalance in your brain. Tests that use urine, saliva, or blood to measure neurotransmitters in the brain likely won’t be very accurate . Not all neurotransmitters are produced in the brain. Currently marketed tests won’t be able to distinguish between neurotransmitter levels in your brain and neurotransmitter levels in the body. In addition, neurotransmitter levels in your body and brain are constantly and rapidly changing. This makes such tests unreliable. Diagnosing mental disorders Mental health conditions aren’t diagnosed with chemical tests. Your treatment plan won’t be guided by such tests either. Your healthcare provider may order blood tests to rule out other conditions, such as a thyroid disorder or vitamin deficiency, which can trigger symptoms of a mental health condition. If no underlying illness is found, you’ll likely be referred to a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. They’ll perform a psychological evaluation. This includes a series of questions about your: thoughts

feelings

eating and sleeping habits

daily activities

How is a chemical imbalance in the brain treated? There are several medications available that are thought to work by changing the levels of certain brain chemicals. These drugs alter levels of either dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, or norepinephrine. Some work on a combination of two more of these chemicals. Examples of these medications include: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs work by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin. Examples are fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and citalopram (Celexa).

SSRIs work by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin. Examples are fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and citalopram (Celexa). Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). This includes duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor XR). SNRIs work by blocking the reabsorption of both serotonin and norepinephrine, leading to increased levels of these two chemicals in the brain.

This includes duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor XR). SNRIs work by blocking the reabsorption of both serotonin and norepinephrine, leading to increased levels of these two chemicals in the brain. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Examples are imipramine (Tofranil) and nortriptyline (Pamelor). TCAs block the reabsorption of noradrenaline and serotonin.

Examples are imipramine (Tofranil) and nortriptyline (Pamelor). TCAs block the reabsorption of noradrenaline and serotonin. Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs). NDRIs, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), prevent your brain from reabsorbing the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine.

NDRIs, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), prevent your brain from reabsorbing the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). MAOIs keep your brain from breaking down norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. These medications, including isocarboxazid (Marplan) and phenelzine (Nardil), are not as popular as other types of antidepressants. When it comes to mental health conditions, there are likely many factors at play. It’s difficult to tell whether a particular drug will ensure a cure. For some people, depression and other mental health conditions are episodic, which means that the symptoms come and go. Medications might be able to help manage your symptoms, but the disorder may take a long time to go into remission. Symptoms can also come back later on. While taking medications for a mental health condition, talk therapy techniques are also an important addition to your treatment plan. Psychotherapy helps to convert your thinking and behavioral patterns into healthier ones. One example is called cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy can help prevent your depression from returning once you’re feeling better.