[JshWright]

> there’s not much evidence to substantiate that this is just a chemical problem

> we aren’t dealing with any of the underlying social problems that probably play a much larger part.

I assume your concern for evidence applies to your pet theory as well, are you able to share any?

[jrs95]

It’s just my opinion based on personal experience, from my own struggles and those of people that I’ve known. It seems to make a lot of sense that we like the chemical imbalance narrative because it allows us as a society to wash our hands of this and pretend it has nothing to do with us.

[ThrowawayP]

While I don't directly agree with jrs95, the fact is that the pills just plain don't work a lot of the time. Google the medical term "treatment-resistant depression". The very first link says "Despite advances in the understanding of the psychopharmacology and biomarkers of major depression and the introduction of several novel classes of antidepressants, only 60%–70% of patients with depression respond to antidepressant therapy." (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3363299/) Presumably, the odds were worse before.

Consider, too, that that probably doesn't even include those that develop tolerance effects afterward; with that, the numbers likely climb much closer to 50%-50% or worse.