Ketogenic Therapies in Psychology

Exciting research is being done in the burgeoning field called Metabolic Psychiatry, which is dedicated to addressing the bioenergetic underpinnings of numerous types of mental illness. We previously reported on research showing “unprecedented mental health improvements” in subjects with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder after following a ketogenic diet in an inpatient setting. A paper published recently in Frontiers in Psychology addresses the need for psychologists to become knowledgeable about ketogenic therapies so they can be an even more integral part of the care team.

As covered in the paper, psychologists play a critical role in helping patients implement treatments recommended by their medical providers. After all, it doesn’t matter how effective a protocol is if a patient lacks the long-term support they need to follow it, and psychologists can be instrumental in this role, provided they have the necessary knowledge about safe implementation of keto diets, and particularly the pitfalls and challenges patients may face when making this change.

Additionally, keto can be used to support improved mental health in a non-medical setting. As a dietary intervention, it can be considered a biological aspect of the “biopsychosocial” model of clinical psychology. The paper’s conclusion stated it succinctly:

“As the field continues to evolve, psychologists’ engagement with current research and clinical applications of the ketogenic diet as a therapeutic intervention will be instrumental in shaping effective, evidence-based mental health treatments.”