The antidepressants known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors have a significant effect on emotional experience and behavior, even in the absence of clinical depression. While serotonergic interventions are known to reduce hostility and violence in psychiatric patients, little is known about the effect of such treatment in normal individuals.

American Journal of Psychiatry March, 1998;155:373-379

COMMENT:

This, and the next article, are two more reasons to consider natural options to antidepressants. As I mentioned in issue #41, one can use 5 hydroxy tryptophan, folic acid and pyridoxal 5 phosphate VERY effectively to treat depression with virtually no side effects. This is still a bandaid though and one needs to transform the emotional wounding that usually precipitated the depression if one is seeking a more effective permanent cure.