Depression is one of the most common psychological conditions affecting people worldwide, and it is growing astronomically, especially among the young.

Until recently, it was assumed that depression, anxiety, and most other psychoses were caused by abnormalities in brain monoamines, a special group of neurotransmitters which includes serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. (Neurotransmitters are chemicals that allow brain cells to communicate with each other.)

In fact, most practicing physicians, including most psychiatrists and psychologists, still believe this.

The drugs that have been used to treat these conditions affect the concentration of neurotransmitters in the brain. For example, SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) medications such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft raise brain serotonin levels by inhibiting its removal. Low brain serotonin has been associated with depression, aggressive behavior, impulsiveness, suicide, and sadness.

Interestingly, only 30 percent of depression sufferers are actually helped by the antidepressant medications — and any benefits they do get can take months to appear. This is a pretty dismal success rate.

Worse yet, most such medications have severe side effects, some of which are worse than the disorder they are meant to treat. For example, SSRI medications have been associated with worsening of depression, suicide risk, homicidal impulses, and even death.

Other antipsychotic medications can cause severe writhing movements of the head and limbs, onset of Parkinson’s disease, intense spasms, and aggravation of addictive behavior.