Using the Ketogenic Diet as an Intervention to Treat Chronic Mental Disorders

Abstract: Background: In 2020, approximately 14.2 million US adults suffered with serious mental illness. Despite advances in pharmacological treatments, chronic psychiatric disorders remain a significant burden, requiring a coordinated effort to develop effective, tolerable and accessible novel interventions. Unfortunately, traditional psychiatric treatment approaches that target the monoaminergic system have been insufficient. Objective: To identify the impact of the Ketogenic Diet (KD) on chronic psychiatric disorders Methods:The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model was used, with the research query, "What is the clinical impact of the ketogenic diet for patients with chronic mental illness?" A total of 14 articles met the inclusion criteria (2013-2022). Results: A growing body of evidence suggests that ketogenic diets effectively manage epilepsy, ASD, MS, and Alzheimer's disease. As mental illnesses share common underlying metabolic diseases with these diseases, it is not surprising that ketosis may play a role in treating mental illnesses. Early clinical evidence supports KD in treating schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, BP, MDD, ADHD, and BED. The lack of RCTs is the challenge in making a definitive judgement regarding the efficacy of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of chronic psychiatric diseases. Conclusion: Nutritional interventions are a promising approach to chronic mental illness. A significant body of evidence supports the efficacy of the KD to treat neurological disorders. It does not appear a coincidence that anticonvulsant medications are used to treat psychiatric disorders. The KD is hypothesized to target inflammation, oxidative stress, glucose hypometabolism, and neurotransmitter imbalance.Short Description: 1. Summarize how the KD has been established as evidence-based in treating many neurologic disorders such as epilepsy ,MS, ASD, and Alzheimer's and identify the correlation with other psychiatric disorders. 2.Identify the four main culprits of brain dysfunction: inflammation, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter imbalance, and glucose hypometabolism. 3.Describe how the KD affects brain metabolism, leading to mitochondrial homeostasis and improved neuroplasticity and synaptogenesis. 4. Present latest evidence that support use of KD for select psychiatric disorders.Name of Sponsoring Organization(s): N/A