Can I Try a Medical Keto Diet for Mental Illness Without a Metabolic Psychiatrist?
Jun 3, 2024
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Discover the potential of ketogenic therapy for mental health and the vital role of collaborating with trained clinicians. Explore personal journeys and the challenges in accessing metabolic psychiatry. Learn about risks like hypomania and the importance of monitoring during the ketogenic diet. Delve into different treatment approaches tailored to individual needs, and find out how intermittent fasting can enhance the effects of keto. Personal experiences and resources are shared to support those on their metabolic journey.
Collaboration with a trained clinician in metabolic therapies is vital for safely implementing ketogenic therapy and monitoring potential risks.
Due to the lack of available practitioners, many patients resort to personal research and support networks, highlighting the need for increased awareness in metabolic psychiatry.
Deep dives
The Importance of Clinical Support
Working with a clinician is essential for safely implementing ketogenic therapy, as it helps mitigate potential risks associated with dietary changes. While some individuals may successfully navigate this journey independently, the ideal scenario involves having a healthcare team familiar with metabolic therapies. Ketogenic therapy, as a powerful intervention, can lead to significant shifts in mental health, making it crucial to monitor symptoms like hypomania that can arise due to dietary changes. The podcast emphasizes the need for collaboration with healthcare providers to ensure that any side effects are promptly addressed and that personal health risks are minimized.
The Challenge of Finding Qualified Clinicians
Many individuals face difficulties finding clinicians trained in ketogenic therapy, which can lead to feelings of frustration and isolation. Despite the growing interest in metabolic psychiatry, there is a notable lack of resources and knowledgeable practitioners in this field. Patients often find themselves in a situation where they are forced to conduct their own research and trial and error without professional guidance. This lack of support can make the journey daunting and highlight the need for increased awareness and training amongst healthcare providers to meet patient demands effectively.
Investigating Personal Experiences and Lived Realities
Listeners are encouraged to consider the lived experiences of those who have successfully utilized ketogenic therapy, emphasizing the importance of personal journeys in understanding its potential benefits. The podcast features anecdotes from individuals who have navigated their own health journeys, often without considerable clinical support or existing frameworks. Sharing these experiences can offer encouragement to others who might feel alone in their struggles, suggesting that community support and shared knowledge can empower patients as they explore these therapeutic options. Personal stories illustrate how many have turned to ketogenic therapy as a last resort and successfully reclaimed their health.
Building Support Networks and Resources
The creation of support networks is vital for individuals pursuing ketogenic therapy, and various resources can aid in this process. Online communities and patient groups provide spaces for sharing experiences and advice, fostering a sense of belonging among those exploring metabolic therapies. In addition to peer support, utilizing educational materials and handouts developed by experts can help individuals communicate effectively with their healthcare teams about the science behind ketogenic therapy. By reaching out for both professional and personal support, individuals can enhance their understanding and increase the likelihood of a successful health transformation.
At Metabolic Mind, we emphasize that ketogenic therapy for psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression should be done with oversight from a clinician trained in metabolic therapies. Sometimes patients and their families voice frustration because it can be challenging to access metabolic psychiatry care. While ideally, every patient would have help from a clinician trained in medical keto for mental health, we know that this is not currently possible for many people.
In this video, Dr. Bret Scher and Hannah Warren discuss why Metabolic Mind recommends that patients work with a clinician trained in metabolic therapies for mental illness, as well as some options patients might want to consider if they cannot find one, but still want to implement medical keto.
This article goes into depth on the subject and links to a variety of resources:
https://www.metabolicmind.org/blog/can-patients-do-ketogenic-therapy-for-a-psychiatric-condition-without-the-help-of-a-metabolic-psychiatrist
Related Resources:
If you or a loved one are looking to begin ketogenic therapy for a psychiatric condition, visit this page for resources: https://www.metabolicmind.org/families-and-peers
Can a Keto Diet Cause Hypomania and How Can It Be Avoided?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F11ZBvCjVNk&t=1s
Tapering Psychiatric Medications on Keto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUy_1VW797k&t=1s
Labs to Check Before Starting Ketosis for Mental Health:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSkOw3l8OoQ&t=2s
List of labs: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/j1qeg7acwrkzrpx2hv5g2/john-doe-own-your-labs2_with_crp.pdf?rlkey=6kavz4fpk91s8moilgfm91qws&e=2&st=wnoqxk5r&dl=0
Information sheet that explains ketogenic therapy and the research to date that patients can take to their clinician:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2dr78g0kny2n5raguk7jc/Scientific-and-Clinical-Rationale-for-KD-in-MH.pdf?rlkey=v7z3ng7py73ac90fokkk86mqj&e=1&st=dr3d3872&dl=0
Living Well With Schizophrenia, Keto and Metabolic Health Program 2024:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgFtG7YA9Y7mRUzd2vuBU7lCC6CpLk1N
The research on ketogenic therapy for mental illness:
https://www.metabolicmind.org/research
Clinician and medical keto expert provider directory:
https://www.metabolicmind.org/families-and-peers#directory
Medical keto for mental illness peer support group:
https://www.meetup.com/keto-lifestyle-for-mental-health/
Medical Keto Group Programs
- Nicole Laurent, LMHC: https://mentalhealthketo.com/brain-fog-recovery-program/
- Erin Bellamy, PhD (group programs starting July 2024) https://www.ikrt.org/
Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.
Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/
About us:
Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.
Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.
#MetabolicMind
#KetoForMentalHealth
#MetabolicPsychiatry
#MetabolicNeuroscience
#KetogenicMetabolicTherapy
#NutritionalKetosis#MentalIllness#AlternativeTreatment#MedicalKeto#KetogenicTherapy#KetoforBipolar#KetoforSchizophrenia
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