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Researchers will test this nutritional therapy's ability to improve patients' mental and physical health. This project builds on a growing body of research suggesting the potential of metabolic therapies in treating serious mental illness.
Psychotic disorders carry a massive personal burden and are associated with a lower life expectancy. Psychosis does not develop immediately, but typically emerges following a period of early, subtle symptoms. Individuals in this stage, classified as CHR-P, represent a critical pre-symptomatic stage offering a window for preventive treatment. However, while diagnostic tools for detecting CHR-P are well-developed, treatment options remain limited. Currently, there is no specific, indicated treatment to reduce the rate of transition to full psychosis in CHR-P patients, underlining an urgent need for developing novel interventions.
This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will assign 50 CHR-P patients (aged 14-35) to either a 12-week modified ketogenic diet or a control diet. Symptom severity will be monitored throughout the trial using the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS) assessment tool, designed specifically to assess symptom severity in young people at high risk of developing psychosis. Participants will receive support from a registered dietitian and will use glucose/ketone meter kits to track adherence to the ketogenic diet. To evaluate efficacy and tolerability, the research team will assess symptom severity, cognitive function, sleep behavior, and physical health. The trial will also follow patients’ health status for up to three years after the intervention via electronic health records to evaluate the longer-term impact. Study lead and Associate Professor Amedeo Minichino, from the Department of Psychiatry, said:
Read the full story on the Department of Psychiatry website.