For years, we’ve been led to believe that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and antidepressants are the solution. But what if this widely accepted belief has been built on unreliable truths?
Join renowned psychiatrist, Joanna Moncrieff, as she takes us on a thought-provoking journey through the history of the serotonin theory of depression, from its origins in the 1960s to its widespread acceptance in the 1990s.

With compelling evidence, Moncrieff exposes how scientific understanding has been swayed by social and economic forces, leading to misconceptions that have shaped treatment decisions for millions.
This is an essential event for anyone seeking to make more informed choices about their mental health and understand the forces that shape the way we perceive and treat depression today.

JOANNA MONCRIEFF

Joanna is Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London, and a consultant psychiatrist for the NHS. She is an expert in the field, and in 2022 she was the lead author of a landmark study into the theory of serotonin and depression. She is a founder member and co-chairperson of the Critical Psychiatry Network, an influential network of psychiatrists and other doctors. She has written for The Guardian, Daily Mail, The Conversation, Literary Review, and has been interviewed for The Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast and the Evening Standard’s Tech and Science Daily, amongst others.

Joanna Moncrieff will also be signing copies of her latest book, ‘Chemically Imbalanced’, which will be available to purchase on the night.

This event will take place upstairs in the Nightingale Room at The Grand Central, Brighton. Unfortunately, there is no wheelchair access to the venue.

• DOORS OPEN: 7:00pm (Advance tickets or £6.50 on the door)

• TALK STARTS: 7:30pm

• AUDIENCE Q&A: 8:30pm

• BOOK SIGNING: 9:00pm (Books available to purchase on the night)