Metabolic Psychiatry
The cutting-edge Metabolic Approach to Mental Health
Growing evidence shows that mental wellness can be linked to gut health, which is why it is essential to include this in any treatment plan. Metabolic Psychiatry is a sub-field of Nutritional Psychiatry that explores the link between metabolic health and mental health. A Metabolic Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner will tailor diet and treatment plans to your own metabolism, biology, and wellness needs. The goal is to optimize body and brain health through diet and lifestyle shifts that heal the gut microbiome.
Your gut microbiome helps to control digestion and also plays a role in your immune system. Plus, there is growing evidence that a healthy microbiome is crucial to good mental health. For instance, around 95% of serotonin is created in your gut—and this neurotransmitter is a key component in well-being as it helps to keep your moods regulated.
But the production of serotonin in your body is dependent on how much ‘good’ bacteria is in your gut microbiome. If this system gets filled with too many toxins and ‘bad bacteria,’ then your gut health will be thrown off balance, affecting your moods and emotions. What’s more, your gut and brain actually have a direct connection to each other, as they are linked by neural pathways. And it is this good bacteria that actually keep communication active between your gut and brain.
What does all this add up to? Basically, it’s crucial to adopt a good diet abundant in gut-boosting foods that are rich in fiber, polyphenols, and are nutrient dense to help keep your metabolic system healthy. As a result, your cognitive functions, moods, and emotions will be healthier.
In fact, problems with your metabolism can even lead to inflammation in the brain, which seems to be a key factor in some mental health conditions. What’s more, research from Stanford Medicine indicates that metabolic issues such as insulin resistance can double a person’s likelihood of developing depression. Other studies have shown a link between insulin resistance and bipolar disorder.
The importance of your gut microbiome on your mental health can’t be underestimated. That is why Metabolic Psychiatry looks to prevent and address any issues by working with clients to develop brain-stabilizing nutrition plans that suit their lifestyles.
CONDITIONS TREATED:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Binge Eating Disorder
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Emotional Eating
- Psychological Consequences of Obesity and Trauma
- Schizophrenia
- Postpartum Depression
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Dysthymia
- Bipolar Disorder
Treatment May Include:
- Comprehensive psychiatric care.
- Medication monitoring, adjustments, & management of adverse effects.
- Psychotherapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, supportive therapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy.
- Comprehensive lab evaluation include labs not typically done at the primary care doctor’s office. If clinically appropriate, this may include traditional and advanced screening for poor metabolic health. For example, the latest research supports testing biomarkers of inflammation and a full genetic profile for brain health.Treatment incorporates individual genetic predispositions and metabolic abnormalities.
- Symptom scale monitoring.
- Meal planning, coaching, dietary and lifestyle guidance, & education.
- One-time consultation/second opinion available.
If you believe you or another individual is suffering a mental health crisis emergency, seek medical attention immediately — call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room.
If you are in need of support, but not in crisis, consider reaching out to a warmline. Warmlines offer a place to call when you just need to talk to someone. Speaking to someone on these calls is typically free, confidential, and run by people who understand what it’s like to struggle with mental health problems.
Find a warmline at mhanational.org/warmlines.
