The Latest Research in Psychiatry
Sometimes the old research is better than the new because of artifacts from medications. However, I have already reviewed much of the old research. Some of the old research was done before the medications were invented. Of course, the medicines themselves are objects of research.
Psychiatric Medication
Unfortunately these meds have been cursed with terrible side effects (2, 3, 11).
"Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used in patients with coronary artery disease and depression, but they have been reported to increase the risk for bleeding." Kim DH, Daskalakis C, Whellan DJ, Whitman IR, Hohmann S, Medvedev S, Kraft WK. Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. (Ref. 6)
ECT
Unfortunately ECT can also cause terrible side effects including memory loss and heart problems (5).
Alternative Medicine
Ref. 7 favors the use of berries. Ref. 9 favors a good diet.
Side Effects
Drugs for physical conditions can have psychiatric side effects (8).
Drug Abuse
Ref. 10 documents one of many horror stories about drug abuse, which is a curse on modern society.
Deep Brain Stimulation
I am very skeptical of this approach (12). I don't see how it can correct the biochemical errors.
Kynurenine
Refs. 13 & 14 & 15 support the kynurenine theory for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. According to this theory tryptophan is being metabolized excessively in the kynurenine pathway in these two disorders.
"Increased concentrations of kynurenine pathway metabolites have been reported by several groups for disorders involving psychosis, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder." Miller CL, Llenos IC, Cwik M, Walkup J, Weis S. Stanley Division for Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Blalock 1105, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
The quote is from Ref. 15.
Orthomolecular Theory
Orthomolecular theory is explained in my own articles at Associated Content (16-22). These articles are free full text. The articles are consistent with the kynurenine theory. It seems that tryptophan is flooding the brain cells in the various forms of mental disease as well as in porphyria, which has psychiatric symptoms. Other amino acids may also be involved in mental diseases. These amino acids are involved in an adverse way. There is too much of them in the brain.
Conclusions
I have attempted to put the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together. My recommendation is a diet very low in protein, much like the diet for PKU. Tryptophan is complex because a lot of sugar has the effect of pumping it into the brain due to the action of insulin. Therefore sugar must be restricted. This is in keeping with standard orthomolecular theory. Pauling, Hoffer, Wendel, Beebe, Adelle Davis, Carlton Fredericks, and others have been against sugrar, and for good reason. Atkins was against it because it is a risk factor for obesity. Sugar causes insulin to be released, which causes the cells to eat.
References
1. Two complex genotypes relevant to the kynurenine pathway and melanotropin function show association with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Miller CL, Murakami P, Ruczinski I, Ross RG, Sinkus M, Sullivan B, Leonard S.
Schizophr Res. 2009 Jun 5. [Epub ahead of print]
2. Rapidly Worsening Hypertriglyceridemia During Treatment with Risperidone.
Kohen I, Manu P.
Am J Ther. 2009 May 19. [Epub ahead of print]
3. Etiology and Risk Factors for Developing Orthostatic Hypotension.
Mosnaim AD, Abiola R, Wolf ME, Perlmuter LC.
Am J Ther. 2009 May 15. [Epub ahead of print]
4. [Somatic diseases of the schizophrenic patient]
Salokangas RK.
Duodecim. 2009;125(5):505-12. Finnish.
5. Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy following electroconvulsive therapy.
Chandra PA, Golduber G, Chuprun D, Chandra AB.
J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2009 Apr;10(4):333-5.
6. Safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in adults undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
Kim DH, Daskalakis C, Whellan DJ, Whitman IR, Hohmann S, Medvedev S, Kraft WK.
Am J Cardiol. 2009 May 15;103(10):1391-5. Epub 2009 Apr 1.
7. Berry anthocyanins and their aglycons inhibit monoamine oxidases A and B.
Dreiseitel A, Korte G, Schreier P, Oehme A, Locher S, Domani M, Hajak G, Sand PG.
Pharmacol Res. 2009 May;59(5):306-11. Epub 2009 Feb 5.
8. Prescrire Int. 2007 Dec;16(92):250.Links
Rimonabant: suicide and depression. Depression and suicidal tendencies are about twice as frequent with rimonabant as with placebo.
9. [Does diet affect our mood? The significance of folic acid and homocysteine]
Karakuła H, Opolska A, Kowal A, Domański M, Płotka A, Perzyński J.
Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2009 Feb;26(152):136-41. Review. Polish.
10. ["Liquid ecstasy": gamma-butyrolactone withdrawal delirium with rhabdomyolysis and dialysis dependent renal failure]
Supady A, Schwab T, Busch HJ.
Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2009 Apr;134(18):935-7. Epub 2009 Apr 21. German.
11. A link between hyperlipidemia and lithium? Confirmation of a recent previous observation.
Bardini G, Rotella CM, Giannini S, Harsch IA, Weimann A.
Metabolism. 2009 May;58(5):735-7; author reply 737.
12. Deep brain stimulation for psychiatric disorders--state of the art.
Schläpfer TE, Bewernick BH.
Adv Tech Stand Neurosurg. 2009;34:37-57. Review.
13. Two complex genotypes relevant to the kynurenine pathway and melanotropin function show association with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Miller CL, Murakami P, Ruczinski I, Ross RG, Sinkus M, Sullivan B, Leonard S.
Schizophr Res. 2009 Jun 5. [Epub ahead of print]
14. Upregulation of the initiating step of the kynurenine pathway in postmortem anterior cingulate cortex from individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Miller CL, Llenos IC, Dulay JR, Weis S.
Brain Res. 2006 Feb 16;1073-1074:25-37. Epub 2006 Jan 30.
15. Alterations in kynurenine precursor and product levels in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Miller CL, Llenos IC, Cwik M, Walkup J, Weis S.
Neurochem Int. 2008 May;52(6):1297-303. Epub 2008 Feb 2.
16. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1810794/scientology_is_bogus.html
17. www.associatedcontent.com/article/1817632/antipsychiatry_is_too_radical.html
18. www.associatedcontent.com/article/1728112/mental_illness_and_homelessness.html 19. www.associatedcontent.com/article/1698919/advances_in_biological_psychiatric.html 20. www.associatedcontent.com/article/1680090/cuban_research_on_schizophrenia.html
21. www.associatedcontent.com/article/1680380/the_virus_theory_for_schizophrenia.html
22. www.associatedcontent.com/article/1676885/new_ideas_in_psychiatry.html
Published by Craig Olson
I have worked at many different jobs including as a scientist, a mental health worker, a physical health worker, etc. I am an advocate for better health care and an advocate for the disabled. View profile
- Amino Acids in PsychiatryThere are many theories of the involvement of amino acids in psychiatric diseases. I believe that at least one of these theories is valid. Amino acids flood the brain cells.
- Advances in Biochemical PsychiatryMuch of the human body and brain are composed of amino acids. Therefore it is not at all surprising that they are involved in diseases.
- Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mental DiseasesThe mitochondria are abnormal in mental diseases. Glucose is being metabolized too slowly in the brain. A diet is suggested.
- Medical Breakthroughs in PsychiatryMany brilliant findings have been reported. Tryptophan metabolism is abnormal in various mental diseases. A diet is suggested.
- Excessive Catabolism of Tryptophan in Mental DiseasesThere is massive evidence that tryptophan metabolism is abnormal in the various forms of mental disease. This is also true in Huntington's chorea, which has psychiatric symptoms.
- Controversies in Psychiatry
- Psychiatric Drug Side Effects
- Biomarkers in Mental Diseases
- The Biochemistry of Mental Diseases
- Bipolar Disorder: Research Findings
- Physical Diseases with Psychiatric Symptoms
- Amino Acid Hypothesis for Mental Diseases