The Myth of Reserpine-Induced Depression: Role in the Historical Development of the Monoamine Hypothesis

For five decades it has been generally accepted that reserpine, an antihypertensive and antipsychotic drug, causes depression. The discovery that reserpine depletes brain monoamines was an important factor in the development of the monoamine hypothesis of depression, and it continues to be widely ci...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the history of the neurosciences Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 207 - 220
Main Authors Baumeister, Alan A., Hawkins, Mike F., Uzelac, Sarah M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Taylor & Francis Group 01.06.2003
Subjects
Biogenic Monoamines - history
Depression - etiology
Depression - history
History, 20th Century
Humans
Reserpine - adverse effects
Reserpine - history
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Summary:For five decades it has been generally accepted that reserpine, an antihypertensive and antipsychotic drug, causes depression. The discovery that reserpine depletes brain monoamines was an important factor in the development of the monoamine hypothesis of depression, and it continues to be widely cited in support of this hypothesis. The present paper argues that, contrary to prevailing belief, reserpine is not depressogenic. The reason for perpetuation of this myth is reluctance to discard the monoamine hypothesis. This hypothesis ushered the modern biochemical paradigm into psychiatry and is still of great importance. It serves as a heuristic to guide research, it enhances psychiatry's prestige, and it helps to validate and promote drug therapy for depression and other mental disorders.
ISSN:0964-704X
1744-5213
DOI:10.1076/jhin.12.2.207.15535