©
Shutterstock
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.
Study lead and Associate Professor Amedeo Minichino, from the Department of Psychiatry, said: "We see promise in ketogenic therapy as a non-stigmatizing, accessible intervention for those navigating early signs of psychosis. If effective, the diet could represent a novel tool that will allow us to intervene before psychotic onset. We are hopeful that by studying the critical window that often precedes psychotic onset, we can change the long-term trajectory of mental well-being in our patients."
Read the full story on the Department of Psychiatry website.