|  | Conditions Treatments | Depression

Orthomolecular Treatment for Depression

Orthomolecular psychiatry is a nutrition-based treatment for mental disorders. Treatments of this nature focus on identifying nutritional deficiencies and increasing the intake of these nutrients to correct psychological problems. This treatment can be used in place of traditional prescription medications, and is often advisable when the patient experiences adverse side effects from a prescription. Orthomolecular treatments can also be used to complement medication and/or psychotherapy.

  1. What can it treat?

    • Orthomolecular psychiatry can be used to treat a number of psychiatric diseases and disorders. Some of these include bipolar disorder, depression, attention defecit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This article will focus on the role of orthomolecular psychiatry in the treatment of major depressive disorders.

    The Nutrients

    • In the field of orthomolecular psychiatry, several key nutrients have been identified and linked with certain disorders. Nutrients that are often recommended under this type of treatment would be B-vitamins, Vitamin C, magnesium, selenium, and the essential fatty acids. Vitamin D deficiency is seen as a common cause for major depressive disorders by orthomolecular physicians.

    Benefits and Risks

    • The main benefit of this treatment is that, if used in lieu of the antidepressants and mood stabilizers traditionally prescribed for depression, it eliminates the unwanted side effects of these medications such as dry mouth, weight gain, and nausea. Orthomolecular treatment may be helpful to those who find it difficult to stick to treatment and take medication because of the side effects. In addition, nutritional treatments could actually improve the functioning of other prescribed medications. The risks of this type of treatment are relatively unclear; however, one risk is the fact that this type of treatment is not regarded as legitimate by very orthodox physicians. More research is undoubtedly needed on the subject.

    Tests and Diagnosis

    • If you decide to seek treatment with an orthomolecular physician, there are a few tests he or she may perform to determine your potential benefit from treatment. These may include any of the following: a questionnaire about your thoughts and behaviors, an EEG (a test measuring brain-wave activity), a mineral test of your hair, and/or a glucose test of your blood.

    Considerations

    • The area of orthomolecular psychiatry is a highly controversial one, due to its lack of balanced research as well as its simplistic and unorthodox approach. Most mental health care providers will recommend that the use of orthomolecular treatments be used in conjunction with another treatment plan, such as medication or counseling. The scientific, medical, and psychiatric communities would all agree that there is currently not enough evidence that orthomolecular psychiatry is effective as the sole treatment for bipolar and other disorders.

Depression - Related Articles