Misplaced Pages

Orthomolecular psychiatry: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 14:24, 12 March 2009 editCoppertwig (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers17,256 edits Removing category "protected redirects"← Previous edit Revision as of 00:10, 13 March 2009 edit undoCoppertwig (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers17,256 edits Reverting to version: 248105776 01:17, 28 October 2008 by Alterrabe. Before reverting to a redirect, please see my comment which I'm now posting to Talk:Orthomolecular medicine.Next edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Orthomolecular psychiatry''' is a branch of ], an ] known for its claims that ]s and other unorthodox nutritional treatments can be effective in treating ]. The approach uses unorthodox forms of individualized testing and diagnosis to attempt to establish an ] for each patient's specific ]s, and claims to tailor the treatment accordingly, using a combination of nutrients, dietary changes and ]s that are claimed to enhance quality of life and functionality as well as to reduce or eliminate symptoms and the use of ] drugs.
#REDIRECT ] {{R from merge}}

The origins of orthomolecular psychiatry date to the 1920s, and the work of ] in the 1950s established the orthodoxy of the field. Hoffer's therapies focused on using ], among other nutrients, to treat acute schizophrenia, which was identified using the Hoffer-Osmond test. In 1973, a task force of the ] examined and rejected the practice and it has been considered an ] since that time. However, the conclusions of this APA report were strongly criticized by proponents of orthomolecular psychiatry for being politically motivated and scientifically unfounded.<ref>Menolascino FJ, et al. "Orthomolecular Therapy: Its History and Applicability to Psychiatric Disorders", ''Child Psychiatry and Human Development'', Vol.18(3), Spring 1988, pp 140-1 </ref> Currently there is a clinical trial being conducted on the basis that previous trials were done without taking into account Hoffer's distinction between acute and chronic schizophrenia.<ref name=NIMHtrial />

Since Hoffer's early work, other possible nutritional treatments for mental illnesses from both inside and outside the orthomolecular community, and some mainly preliminary current scientific research is consistent with some the hypotheses advanced by orthomolecular psychiatrists,<ref>Syd Baumel (Aug 2000) "Chapter 5, ", "Chapter 6, ", ''Dealing with Depression Naturally: Complementary and Alternative Therapies'', 2nd ed, McGraw-Hill; ISBN 0658002910</ref> but most orthomolecular practices have not been extensively tested by conventional ]s, instead practitioners rely on their interpretations of biochemical research, ]s and ].{{Fact|date=July 2008}}

== History ==

The origins of orthomolecular psychiatry can be traced to as early as 1927,<ref>Reiter PJ: Behandlung von Dementia Praecox mit metallsalzen. Mangan. Z. Neur., 108:464-480, 1927 As quoted in Carl C. Pfeiffer, Ph.D., M.D. and Scott LaMola, B.S. Zinc and Manganese in the Schizophrenias, Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry, Vol. 12, No. 3, 1983</ref> and the broad roots of modern orthomolecular medicine involving Linus Pauling trace back to the 1930s.<ref>{{cite book |author=Kay, Lily E. |title=The molecular vision of life: Caltech, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the rise of the new biology |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |year=1993 |pages= |isbn= 0195111435 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> Orthomolecular psychiatry ''per se'' is generally accepted to have begun in the 1950s with the work of ] and ], continued by the work of ].<!-- ].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.lapinskas.com/publications/dfh_bibliography/ | title = David Horrobin Bibliography }}</ref> THIS WEB PAGE DOESN'T DEMONSTRATE A CONNECTION BETWEEN HORROBIN AND ORTHOMOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY--> For a time in the late 1950s and early 1960s, research into orthmolecular treatments was given much more prominence but the availability of faster acting orthodox tranquilizers and antidepressants, with clinically proven effects, began to dominate conventional psychiatric practice.<ref>{{cite web | last = Olson | first = G | url = http://commonground.ca/iss/0604177/cg177_ortho.shtml | title = Orthomolecular medicine: Vitamins are key to mental health | publisher = Common Ground | date = 2006-04-01 | accessdate = 2008-01-15}}</ref> In 1968, ] gave the name and principle to the discipline of 'orthomolecular psychiatry'.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Pauling L |title=Orthomolecular psychiatry. Varying the concentrations of substances normally present in the human body may control mental disease |journal=]|volume=160 |issue=825 |pages=265–71 |year=1968 |pmid=5641253 |doi=| url = http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/MM/B/B/J/Q/_/mmbbjq.pdf }}</ref><ref name="Pauling2">{{cite book |coauthors=Hawkins, D | last = Pauling | first = L | authorlink = Linus Pauling |title=Orthomolecular Psychiatry: Treatment of Schizophrenia |publisher=Freeman |location= San Francisco |year= 1973 |pages= 697|isbn=0716708981}}</ref>

The earliest assertions by proponents of orthomolecular psychiatry were rejected in 1973 by a panel of the ].<ref name="Pauling">{{cite journal |author=Pauling L, Wyatt RJ, Klein DF, Lipton MA |title=On the orthomolecular environment of the mind: orthomolecular theory |journal=The ] |volume=131 |issue=11 |pages=1251–67 |year=1974 |pmid=4608217 |doi=}}</ref> <!-- , which instead INSTEAD OF WHAT? NEEDS CLARIFICATIONS - THE TEXT MENTIONS ASSERTIONS, NOT TRIALS; COULD BE WORDED AS 'TESTED THE OMP PROTOCOL USING...'--> The protocols used by the APA to test the theories of orthomolecular psychiatry involved populations with chronic schizophrenia <!-- IS THERE SUCH THING AS ACUTE SCHIZOPHRENIA, OR DOES THIS REFER TO ACUTE PSYCHOSIS? --> as well as populations not expected to benefit from the approach (notably populations with ] and ]).<ref name=NIMHtrial>{{cite web | title = Treatment of Acute Schizophrenia With Vitamin Therapy | url = http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00140166?show_desc=Y#desc | publisher = Clinicaltrials.gov| date = 2005-08-31 | last = Lerner | first = V | accessdate = 2008-01-15 }}</ref> Orthomolecular psychiatry has subsequently found scant support in mainstream psychiatry<ref name=QW>{{cite web | url = http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/ortho.html | title = Orthomolecular Therapy | last = Barrett M.D.| first = Stephen | authorlink = Stephen Barrett | publisher = ] | date = 2000-07-12 | accessdate = 2008-01-02 }}</ref> and is currently considered to be an unproven system of treatments. After 1975, research directly associated with orthomolecular psychiatry was primarily reported in ''Orthomolecular Psychiatry'', now the '']''. A ] listed, ] of treatment, with two additional orthomolecular related nutrients originated later in the 1950s, is being tested, and is expected to be complete in 2009.<ref name=NIMHtrial/>

== Diagnosis ==
Proponents of orthomolecular psychiatry claim to have identified the causes of some psychiatric syndromes, in particular those that cause ]; according to orthomolecular proponents, testing for these causes guides diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic measures and therapies commonly employed include "individual biochemical workup", ], identifying suggested ], dietary changes, ], ], and other so-called pharmacologic nutrients.<ref name = Edelman>{{cite book |author=Eva Edelman |title=Natural Healing for Schizophrenia: And Other Common Mental Disorders |publisher=Borage Books |location= |date=2001 |pages= |isbn=0-9650976-7-6 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref>

==Treatment==
Treatment generally involves the administration of the 'right' substances (''ortho'' meaning ''right'' in ]); generally this involves administration of high doses of ]s, ]s and other substances already produced or required by the body. Orthomolecular psychiatrists do not categorically refuse to prescribe psychotropic medications; antipsychotics are often used to stabilize a patient, and anti-epileptics (dilantin in particular) are occasionally used to treat the conditon called by orthomolecular doctors, '].'<ref name = Edelman/> Not infrequently, the improvements orthomolecular psychiatrists can adduce are claimed to be sufficient to allow patients to reduce, but not eliminate, their reliance on conventional psychotropic drugs.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}

Orthomolecular methods have been claimed as effective in treating ],{{Fact|date=January 2008}} ],<ref name = Edelman/> ] and some of its sub-types.<ref name = ABCHoffer>{{cite book |author=Hoffer, Abram |title=Dr. Hoffer's ABC of Natural Nutrition for Children: With Learning Disabilities, Behavioral Disorders, and Mental State Dysfunctions |publisher=Quarry press |location= |year=1999 |pages= |isbn=1550821857 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref>, and ].<ref>{{cite journal| url = http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1999/abstracts/1999-v14n01-p028.shtml | title = The adverse effects of manganese deficiency on reproduction and health: A literature review | first = Tuula | last = Tuormaa | journal = J Orthomolecular Med | volume = 11 | issue = 2 | year = 1996 | accessdate = 2007-12-18 | format = abstract}}</ref> The ] has also referred to a reported case of a recovery from a diagnosis of Alzheimer's attributed partly to orthomolecular treatment to ] and reduced exposure to ].<ref>{{cite journal | url =http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/2000/pdf/2000-v15n01-p021.pdf | format = pdf | title = How aluminum causes Alzheimer's disease: The implications for prevention and treatment of Foster's Multiple Antagonist hypothesis | last = Foster | first = HD | journal = The ] | volume = 15 | issue = 1 | year = 2000 | pages = 21–51 }}</ref>

==Specific conditions==
===Schizophrenia===

According to orthomolecular psychiatry, the causes of psychotic disorders include ], ] (elevated histamine and basophiles), histapenia with high serum copper (low histamine with high copper), ], ], ] in the presence of normal thyroid values, ] intoxications, as well as other rarer conditions.<ref name = Edelman/> <!-- This clearly belongs in the psychotic disorders -->

Hoffer and Osmond developed and used the "Hoffer-Osmond Diagnostic test" of perception, their biochemical research as available in the 1950s and 1960s, and length of illness, acute vs. chronic, to identify, differentiate and monitor schizophrenic patients' progress, with more specific classifications in schizophrenia for orthomolecular treatment than the then accepted, broader classifications of the schizophrenizas.<!-- USED CURRENTLY? SHOULD THIS BE DISCUSSED IN HISTORY, THEN MENTIONED HERE AS JUST THE HOD? --><!-- The use of the ] to evaluate patients is also being explored.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ness-foundation.org.uk/Niacin-Abnormalities.htm | title = Niacin Abnormalities | publisher = The Ness Foundation}}; {{dlw| url = http://www.ness-foundation.org.uk/Niacin-Abnormalities.html |date=March 2005}}</ref> GIVEN THAT THIS IS A 2005 CACHE PAGE, IT'S DUBIOUS TO USE 'IS' - RESULTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE NOW--> Many orthomolecular physicians still prescribe an initial course of ]s for ] patients with the long-term goal returning patients to health, and avoiding antipsychotics due to their ]. Orthomolecular psychiatry's goal of weaning patients from conventional neuroleptic drugs<ref name = Edelman/> follows '] Law', "For every drug that benefits a patient, there is a natural substance that can achieve the same effect".<ref>{{cite book |author=Paul Barney |title=Doctor's Guide to Natural Medicine: The Complete and Easy-To-Use Natural Health Reference from a Medical Doctor's Perspective |publisher=Woodland Publishing |location=Pleasant Grove, UT |year= |pages= |isbn=1-885670-84-2 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref>

A single study of megavitamin and dietary therapy to treat schizophrenia was tested in 1999 and found to be effective at increasing serum levels of vitamins, but did not show any impact on symptoms of schizophrenia.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Vaughan K, McConaghy N |title=Megavitamin and dietary treatment in schizophrenia: a randomised, controlled trial |journal=Aust N Z J Psychiatry |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=84–8 |year=1999 |pmid=10197889 |doi=10.1046/j.1440-1614.1999.00527.x}}</ref>

===Bipolar disorder===
]s have been demonstrated to assist in treating ],<ref>{{cite journal |author=Stoll AL, Locke CA, Marangell LB, Severus WE |title=Omega-3 fatty acids and bipolar disorder: a review |journal=Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids |volume=60 |issue=5-6 |pages=329–37 |year=1999 |pmid=10471117 |doi=10.1016/S0952-3278(99)80008-8}}</ref> in keeping with orthomolecular psychiatry's assertion that foods can be used to treat mental illness. Omega fatty acids also show promise or use in treating many other conditions.<ref name = Kidd>{{cite journal |author=Kidd PM |title=Omega-3 DHA and EPA for cognition, behavior, and mood: clinical findings and structural-functional synergies with cell membrane phospholipids |journal=Altern Med Rev |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=207–27 |year=2007 |pmid=18072818 |doi=}}</ref>

===Depression===

The orthomolecular treatment of depression generally consists of treating histadelia, which can cause depression with and without psychosis, with methionine, or augmenting other amino acid imbalances. The coenzyme ] is effective in treating some forms of depression.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Kagan BL, Sultzer DL, Rosenlicht N, Gerner RH |title=Oral S-adenosylmethionine in depression: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial |journal=Am J Psychiatry |volume=147 |issue=5 |pages=591–5 |year=1990 |pmid=2183633 |doi=| url = http://www.ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/147/5/591| accessdate = 2007-02-16 |format=abstract }}
</ref><ref>{{ cite journal |author=Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Falk WE, ''et al'' |title=The antidepressant potential of oral S-adenosyl-l-methionine |journal=] |volume=81 |issue=5 |pages=432–6 |year=1990 |pmid=2113347 |doi=10.1111/j.1600-0447.1990.tb05476.x}}</ref> One paper in the ] reported that S-adenosylmethionine was as effective as conventional antidepressants, and linked depression to a disorder of ].<ref name="Reynolds">{{cite journal |author=Reynolds EH, Carney MW, Toone BK |title=Methylation and mood |journal=Lancet |volume=2 |issue=8396 |pages=196–8 |year=1984 |pmid=6146753 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(84)90482-3}}</ref> Pfeiffer and others advocate the use of methionine, which is a precursor to S-adenosyl methionine, to treat some forms of depression, but have not published any clinical trials that would test the effectiveness of this therapy.<ref name = Pfeiffer>{{cite book |author=Pfeiffer, Carl C. |title=Nutrition and Mental Illness: An Orthomolecular Approach to Balancing Body Chemistry |publisher=Healing Art Press |location= |year= |pages= |isbn=0-89281-226-5}}</ref> Mainstream ] is, however, coming to report that some depressive disorders linked to suicide are linked to very elevated rates of methylation.<ref name = Poulter>{{cite journal |author=Poulter MO |title=GABAA receptor promoter hypermethylation in suicide brain: implications for the involvement of epigenetic processes. |journal=Biol Psychiatry |volume=64 |issue=8 |pages=645-52 |year=2008 |pmid=18639864 |doi=}}</ref>


The amino acid ], a precursor of ], is also used to treat some forms of depression; significant differences were found between plasma tryptophan levels in patients suffering from depression and healthy controls.<ref name="Breverman">{{cite book |coauthors=Breverman MD ER | last = Pfeiffer MD PhD | first = Carl | authorlink = Carl Pfeiffer |title=The Healing Nutrients Within |publisher=Basic Health Publications |location= San Francisco |year= 2003|pages= 448|isbn=1591200377}} </ref> Mainstream psychiatry often treats depression with ]s. There are reports that tryptophan is effective in the treatment of mania.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Chouinard G et al |title=A controlled clinical trial of L-tryptophan in acute mania |journal=Biol Psychiatry |volume=20|issue=5 |pages=546–57 |year=1985|pmid=10471117 |doi=10.1016/0006-3223(85)90026-5}}</ref>

==Treatment centers==
Currently, orthomoleculary psychiatry continues to be investigated by a small number of researchers. The ] is dedicated to the research and use of orthomolecular psychiatry in the treatment of ], ], ], and violent criminal behavior.

== Relationship to mainstream psychiatry ==
Orthomolecular psychiatry has been rejected by the mainstream medical community, as has been the use of dietary interventions to treat psychological health,<ref>{{cite journal |author=Miller M |title=Diet and psychological health |journal=Altern Ther Health Med |volume=2 |issue=5 |pages=40–8 |year=1996 |pmid=8795935 |doi=}}</ref> although in recent years the psychiatric research community has cautiously began to reevaluate their skepticism of the use of dietary interventions to optimize mental well-being.<ref name="Economist"> ''The Economist'', February 2, 2008</ref> <ref name="Gesch">Gesch CB et al, , Br J Psych, 2002, Vol. 181, pp. 22-28 2002</ref> <ref>{{cite journal |author=Stoll AL, Locke CA, Marangell LB, Severus WE |title=Omega-3 fatty acids and bipolar disorder: a review |journal=Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids |volume=60 |issue=5-6 |pages=329–37 |year=1999 |pmid=10471117 |doi=10.1016/S0952-3278(99)80008-8}}</ref> Critics have noted that the claims advanced by its proponents are considered unsubstantiated, and even false, by conventional psychiatry. Authoritative bodies such as the National Institute of Mental Health<ref name = QW>{{cite web | url = http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/ortho.html | title = Orthomolecular Therapy | last = Barrett M.D.| first = Stephen | authorlink = Stephen Barrett | publisher = ] |date=2000-07-12 | accessdate = 2008-01-02 }}</ref> and American Academy of Pediatrics<ref>{{cite web | url = http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/72/5/707 | title = Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation in Down's Syndrome | first = Forrest C. | last = Bennett | accessdate = 2007-02-13}}</ref> have criticized orthomolecular treatments as ineffective and potentially toxic.

A 1973 task force of the American Psychiatric Association charged with investigating orthomolecular claims, but instead focused on niacin monotherapeutically<ref name="Pauling"/> (the earliest version of treatment, ca. 1952) for a different kind of patient population, unanimously concluded:
<blockquote>This review and critique has carefully examined the literature produced by megavitamin proponents and by those who have attempted to replicate their basic and clinical work. It concludes in this regard that the credibility of the megavitamin proponents is low. Their credibility is further diminished by a consistent refusal over the past decade to perform controlled experiments and to report their new results in a scientifically acceptable fashion.

Under these circumstances this Task Force considers the massive publicity which they promulgate via radio, the lay press and popular books, using catch phrases which are really misnomers like "megavitamin therapy" and "orthomolecular treatment," to be deplorable.<ref>{{citation | author = Lipton M et al. | title = Task Force Report on Megavitamin and Orthomolecular Therapy in Psychiatry | location = ] | year = 1973 | publisher = ]}}; as cited in {{cite web | url = http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/ortho.html | title = Orthomolecular Therapy | last = Barrett M.D.| first = Stephen | authorlink = Stephen Barrett | publisher = ] | date = 2000-07-12 | accessdate = 2008-01-02 }}</ref></blockquote>

A study of the effectiveness of an orthomolecular treatment for acute schizophrenia began in 2005, attempting to adequately address the failings of previous APA studies to use an appropriate treatment group and intervention. <blockquote>Controlled studies using the orthomolecular approach have been few. Those that were done were performed in chronic schizophrenia or in populations that included bipolar and schizoaffective patients. Both of these diagnostic groups are not today considered to benefit from the orthomolecular approach. Moreover, some negative studies of high-dose niacin were done in patients who were not otherwise given general counseling for good diet.";<ref name=NIMHtrial/> compared with a basic, modern orthomolecular regimen.</blockquote>

Proponents consider the 1973 APA task force report error laden with sweeping, scientifically unfounded conclusions,<ref name="Pauling"/> highly politicized, and that its studies failed to use similar methods, materials and subjects as the original work.<ref name = MVT>{{cite web | url = http://www.iahf.com/orthomolecular/reply_to_apa_tfr_7.pdf | title = Megavitamin Therapy In Reply To Task Force Report on Megavitamin and Orthomolecular Therapy in Psychiatry | source = Canadian Schizophrenia Foundation | year = 1976}}</ref> The APA report's criticism alleges inadequate controlled trials because ] quit running additional blinded tests that he had come to view as unethical for his patients, especially since the results of his previous double blinded tests went unheeded.<ref>{{cite book | first = Abram | last = Hoffer | title = Adventures in Psychiatry: The Scientific Memoirs of Dr. Abram Hoffer | publisher = KOS Publishing | location = Toronto | year = 2005}} </ref> The APA's assertion is made despite Hoffer's claim to have run the first double blind controlled test in psychiatry, on megavitamin therapies, with a total four double blinded tests, up to 19 years before the APA task force report, as well as being supported by two independent double blinded tests
<ref name = witten>{{cite journal |author=Wittenborn JR, Weber ES, Brown M |title=Niacin in the long-term treatment of schizophrenia |journal=Arch. Gen. Psychiatry |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=308–15 |year=1973 |pmid=4569673 |doi=}}</ref> and an extensive biochemical research program.<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1999/pdf/1999-v14n01-p049.pdf | first = A | last = Hoffers | coauthors = Osmond, H. | title = The adrenochrome hypothesis | journal = Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine | volume = 14 | issue = 1 | year = 1999}}</ref> One of the APA report's five authors, psychologist JR Wittenborn, reacting to Hoffer's specific criticisms, later re-analyzed his original double blind study<ref name = witten/> favorably with respect to orthomolecular psychiatry, obtaining the same result as Hoffer,<ref>{{cite journal |author=Wittenborn JR |title=A search for responders to niacin supplementation |journal=Arch. Gen. Psychiatry |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=547–52 |year=1974 |pmid=4607587 |doi=}}</ref> and never received NIMH or APA support again.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.doctoryourself.com/hoffer_paradigm.html | first = Abram | last = Hoffer | title = The Vitamin Paradigm Wars, Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients | year = 1996}}</ref> According to Hoffer, APA task force co-author Thomas Ban was well known for his tranquilizer studies and that Ban previously stated that much of his income derived from grants from companies and other sources interested in selling tranquilizers.<ref name = MVT/> APA task force co-author, then NIMH member ], prior to the serving on the panel, had stated forcefully that if every psychiatrist in the USA believed that megavitamin therapy helped schizophrenic patients, he would not believe it.<ref name = MVT/> Mosher later resigned from the American Psychiatric Association in total disgust for reasons unrelated to orthomolecular psychiatry,<ref> Loren R. Mosher, M.D. to Rodrigo Munoz, M.D., President of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), Letter of Resignation from the American Psychiatric Association, 4 December 1998</ref> and referred to the organization as a "drug company patsy."<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63107-2004Jul19.html | last = Bernstein | first = Adam | title = Contrarian Psychiatrist Loren Mosher, 70 (obituary}| publisher = ] |date=2004-07-20 | accessdate = 2007-12-18}}</ref> In any event, allegations of misconduct surround panels that influence mainstream psychiatry to this day.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/article454391.ece | last = Farley| first = Robert | title =Drug research to test or to tout?| publisher = St. Petersburg Times |date=2008-04-12 | accessdate = 2008-04-16}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-cmap_26tex.ART.State.Edition1.4a88179.html| last = Remshaw| first = Emily| title =State medication protocol researchers sought money from drug firms | publisher = Dallas Morning News |date=2008-10-28 | accessdate = 2008-10-28}}</ref>

== Current research ==
===Food allergies===

A 2006 literature review noted that studies had found that the frequency of schizophrenia in patients with celiac disease to be significantly above average; one study found schizophrenia to occur in patients with celiac disease 3.2 times as often as in the general population.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Eaton W et al |title=Coeliac disease and schizophrenia: population based case control study with linkage of Danish national registers |journal=BMJ |volume=328 |pages=438–9 |year=2004 |pmid=14976100 |doi=10.1136/bmj.328.7437.438}}</ref> The review reported that some studies suggest that removal of gluten from the diet of a subset of schizophrenic patients may reduce symptoms in a subset of patients, but that others have seen no effect from dietary changes. It noted that the sample sizes in the studies that found no improvement were very small, so that if only a relatively small subset of schizophrenics do improve, the odds of these studies, one of which was otherwise flawed, not including any of these less common cases was between 48% and 75%. The review attributed the hesitancy with which these positive results have been been received to the fact that many of them had been reported by a group lead by the same researcher, FC Dohan. Dohan reported in one study of 102 patients that 62% of the patients in a locked ward could be discharged to an unlocked ward within 7 days compared to only 36% on a high cereal diet.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Dohan FC, et al.|title=Relapsed schizophrenics: more rapid improvement on a milk- and cereal-free diet |journal=Br J Psychiatry|volume=115|issue=5|pages=595–6 |year=1969 |pmid=5820122 |doi=}}</ref> Another study found that after 90 days, 37.2% of the patients on a gluten and milk-free diet had been discharged from the locked ward compared to 16.1% on a diet rich in cereals. Neither study was double blind, however secretly adding gluten unbeknownst to patients or staff was found to negate the observed different rate of recovery.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Dohan FC, et al.|title=Relapsed schizophrenics: earlier discharge from the hospital after cereal-free, milk-free diet |journal=Am J Psychiatry|volume=130|issue=(6)|pages=685–8|year=1973 |pmid=4739849 |doi=}}</ref> Other studies not conducted by Dohan have reported similar findings,<ref>{{cite journal |author=Singh MM, et al.|title=Study of gluten effect in schizophrenia |journal=Arch Gen Psychiatry|volume=40|issue=(3)|pages=345–6|year=1983 |pmid=6830414 |doi=}}</ref> <ref>{{cite journal |author=Rice JR, et al.|title=Another look at gluten in schizophrenia |journal=Am J Psychiatry.|volume=135|issue=(11)|pages=1417–8|year=1978|pmid=707651|doi=}}</ref> or symptom improvement on a gluten-free diet which dramatically worsened when gluten was reintroduced.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Vlissides DN, et al.|title=A double-blind gluten-free/gluten-load controlled trial in a secure ward population|journal=Br J Psychiatry|volume=148|issue=(4)|pages=447–52|year=1986 |pmid=3524724 |doi=}}</ref>

Also mentioned was a 1997 article about a woman with schizophrenia and ] who experienced a remission of both illnesses when gluten was removed from her diet. ] scans before and after the adoption of a gluten-free diet change showed a remarkable resolution of the decreased blood flow to the brain's cortex, which is associated with schizophrenia.<ref>{{cite journal |author=De Santis A et al |title=Schizophrenic symptoms and SPECT abnormalities in a coeliac patient: regression after a gluten-free diet |journal=J Intern Med |volume=242 |pages=421–423 |year=1997 |pmid=9408073 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2796.1997.00200.x}}</ref> The review concluded that large randomized clinical trials (RCTs) will be required to verify if there is a genuine causal relationship between diet and schizophrenia.<ref name = Eaton>{{cite journal |pmid = 16423158 |first = A.E. |last = Kalaydjian |coauthors = Eaton W., Cascella N. & Fasano A. | year = 2006 |title = The gluten connection: the association between schizophrenia and celiac disease |journal = ] |volume = 113| issue = 2 | pages = 82–90 |doi = 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00687.x}}</ref> The problem is that RCTs are very costly, and since it is impossible to patent a diet, there is no motivation for the pharmaceutical or other industry to fund such a trial. Removing gluten and other allergens had long been recommended by orthomolecular psychiatrists when indicated.<ref name = Edelman/><ref name = Pfeiffer/>

===Copper===
The only neurological disease that has been unambiguously proved to be caused by an accumulation of copper to toxic levels is a ] called ].<ref>{{cite journal |author=de Bie P, Muller P, Wijmenga C, Klomp LW |title=Molecular pathogenesis of Wilson and Menkes disease: correlation of mutations with molecular defects and disease phenotypes |journal=J. Med. Genet. |volume=44 |issue=11 |pages=673–88 |year=2007 |pmid=17717039 |doi=10.1136/jmg.2007.052746}}</ref> Carl Pfeiffer proposed that a form of schizophrenia or ] he named histapenia could sometimes be accompanied by the accumulation of ] without the liver damage copper toxicity causes in Wilson's disease;<ref name = Pfeiffer/> his beliefs were dismissed by the mainstream medical community. More recently there has been considerable mainstream scientific interest in the hypothesis that ] may instead involve reductions in the levels of copper in the brain.<ref name=Donnelly>{{cite journal |author=Donnelly PS, Xiao Z, Wedd AG |title=Copper and Alzheimer's disease |journal=Curr Opin Chem Biol |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=128–33 |year=2007 |pmid=17300982 |doi=10.1016/j.cbpa.2007.01.678}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Rossi L, Squitti R, Calabrese L, Rotilio G, Rossini PM |title=Alteration of peripheral markers of copper homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease patients: implications in aetiology and therapy |journal=J Nutr Health Aging |volume=11 |issue=5 |pages=408–17 |year=2007 |pmid=17657362}}</ref> These results have led to initial clinical trials of copper supplements as a possible treatment for Alzheimer's disease.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Pajonk FG, Kessler H, Supprian T, ''et al'' |title=Cognitive decline correlates with low plasma concentrations of copper in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease |journal=J. Alzheimers Dis. |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=23–7 |year=2005 |pmid=16155346}}</ref> The use of the copper ] ] to treat changes in copper levels has also been proposed. This compound showed promise in initial studies,<ref>{{cite journal |author=Ritchie CW, Bush AI, Mackinnon A, ''et al'' |title=Metal-protein attenuation with iodochlorhydroxyquin (clioquinol) targeting Abeta amyloid deposition and toxicity in Alzheimer disease: a pilot phase 2 clinical trial |journal=Arch. Neurol. |volume=60 |issue=12 |pages=1685–91 |year=2003 |pmid=14676042 |doi=10.1001/archneur.60.12.1685}}</ref> but a recent ] stated that firm conclusions cannot be made from these small-scale trials.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Jenagaratnam L, McShane R |title=Clioquinol for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev |volume= |issue=1 |pages=CD005380 |year=2006 |pmid=16437529 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD005380.pub2}}</ref> However, if this effect is genuine, the mechanism of action of this drug is unclear. One scientist investigating clioquinol theorizes that the cause of Alzheimer's is a build-up of copper and ] in the brain, and believes clioquinol will be useful in absorbing the metals and dissolving the ] plaques associated with the disease,<ref name = USAT>{{cite news | url = http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2003-12-26-alz-advance_x.htm | title = Scientist is winning converts on Alzheimer's | publisher = ] | last = Wysocki | first = Bernard |date = 2003-12-26 | accessdate = 2008-01-16}}</ref> but others suggest that clioquinol may be an ] that transports copper into the brain.<ref name=Donnelly/><ref>{{cite journal |author=Cherny RA, Atwood CS, Xilinas ME, ''et al'' |title=Treatment with a copper-zinc chelator markedly and rapidly inhibits beta-amyloid accumulation in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice |journal=Neuron |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=665–76 |year=2001 |pmid=11430801 |doi=10.1016/S0896-6273(01)00317-8}}</ref>

A scientist specifically pursuing research in orthomolecular psychiatry has found that women who suffer from postpartum depression on average have a strongly significant higher level of plasma copper than women who haven't suffered from postpartum depression,<ref>{{cite journal |author=Crayton JW et al. |title=Elevated serum copper levels in women with a history of post-partum depression |journal=J Trace Elem Med Biol. |volume=21|issue=1 |pages=17–21 |year=2007|pmid=17317521 |doi=10.1016/j.jtemb.2006.10.001}}</ref> and that males with a history of violence and assault have a significantly higher median blood copper / zinc ratio.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Walsh JW et al. |title=Elevated blood copper/zinc ratios in assaultive young males |journal=Physiol Behav. |volume=62|issue=2 |pages=327–329 |year=2007|pmid=9251975 |doi=10.1016/S0031-9384(97)88988-3}}</ref>

===Histadelia===

Carl Pfeiffer posited the existence of a syndrome called "]"; this is claimed to be marked by unnaturally high blood levels of the naturally occurring chemical messenger ] as well as so-called "undermethylation", which Pfeiffer suggested might cause depression and psychosis. Pfeiffer gave the amino acid ] to people that he considered had this syndrome. Although there is no published scientific evidence that methionine is effective in the treatment of these mental illnesses, one trial has been published that suggested the ] ] is effective in the treatment of depression.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Mischoulon D, et al. |title=Role of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in the treatment of depression: a review of the evidence |journal=Am J Clin Nutr. |volume=76|issue=(5) |pages=1158S–61S |year=2002 |pmid=12420702}}</ref>

===Amalgam intoxication===

Between 1997 and 1999 the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine published articles that suggested there was a ] between ] fillings and schizophrenia,<ref >{{cite journal | format = pdf | url = http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1999/pdf/1999-v14n04-p201.pdf | author= Sibelrud RL, et al. | year = 1999 |title = Psychometric evidence that dental amalgam mercury may be an etiological factor in schizophrenia |journal = J Orthomolecular Med |volume = 14| issue = 4 | pages = 201–209| accessdate = 2008-01-12}}</ref> bipolar disorder,<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1998/pdf/1998-v13n01-p031.pdf | format = pdf |author= Sibelrud RL, et al. | year = 1998 |title = Psychometric evidence that dental amalgam mercury may be an etiological factor in manic depression |journal = J Orthomolecular Med |volume = 13| issue = 1 | pages = 31–40| accessdate = 2008-01-12}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1997/pdf/1997-v12n03-p169.pdf | format = pdf | author= Sibelrud RL, et al. | year = 1997 |title = Evidence that mercury from silver dental fillings may Be an etiological factor in reduced nerve Conduction velocity in multiple sclerosis patients |journal = J Orthomolecular Med |volume = 12| issue = 3 | pages = 169–172| accessdate = 2008-01-12}}</ref> Anecdotal accounts also suggested similar ideas, with in 1998 a dentist publishing that a patient who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but whose symptoms resolved after her amalgam fillings were replaced. The patient's neurologist subsequently concluded that she had never suffered from multiple sclerosis.<ref name="Engel">{{cite journal | url = http://www.amalgam-info.ch/beobac-e.pdf | format = pdf |author= Engel P | year = 1998 |title = Health observations before and after amalgam removal |journal = Schweiz. Monatsschrift f. Zahnmed |volume = 108| issue = 8|pmid=9776669 | accessdate = 2008-01-12}}</ref><!-- ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE AND HOW RELIABLE IS THE JOURNAL? --> Another patient described in this study had been almost completely unable to work because of psychological and physical ailments deemed to be psychosomatic, almost completely recovered after her amalgam fillings were removed.<ref name="Engel"/> Another dentist has written a book describing what he claims are recoveries from multiple sclerosis after the removal of amalgam fillings.<ref>{{cite book |author=Huggins HA | title= Solving the MS Mystery: Help, Hope and Recovery |publisher= Matrix Inc. |location= |year=2002 |pages= 405 |isbn= 0972461116|doi=}}</ref><!-- ALSO ANECDOTAL --> A paper on the effects of amalgam fillings on the immune system reported that they can cause the appearance of ]s, which are seldom seen in amalgam-free patients.<ref>{{cite book |author=Huggins, Hal A. |title=Mercury and Other Toxic Metals in Humans: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Biocompatiblity of Materials : 1988, Colorado Springs, |publisher=Life Sciences Pr |location= |year= |pages= |isbn=0-943685-08-7 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> Pfeiffer reported that some schizophrenic patients had extremely high basophil counts.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Pfeiffer CC |title=Extreme basophil counts and blood histamine levels in schizophrenic outpatients as compared to normals |journal=Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. |volume=4 |issue=(1) |pages=51–9 |year=1972 |pmid=4671910 |doi=| |doi_brokendate=2008-06-23}}</ref> These ideas are not accepted in mainstream science, and a recent ] of four ] studies found significant differences between the findings of the individual studies, but on average only a slight but insignificant association between amalgam fillings and multiple sclerosis.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Aminzadeh KK, Etminan M |title=Dental amalgam and multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=J Public Health Dent |volume=67 |issue=1 |pages=64–6 |year=2007 |pmid=17436982 |doi=10.1111/j.1752-7325.2007.00011.x}}</ref> The ] and ]'s position statements on dental amalgams is that they do not pose a significant risk of adverse health consequences and are a cost-effective, durable and effective option for dental fillings,<ref name = FDA>{{cite web | url = http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/amalgams.html | title = Questions and Answers on Dental Amalgam | date = 2006-10-30 | accessdate = 2008-01-04 | publisher = ] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/positions/statements/amalgam.asp | title = ADA Statement on Dental Amalgam | date = 2007-04-06 | accessdate = 2008-01-04 | publisher = ]}}</ref> though an ] panel felt that there was insufficient research for an unequivocal statement on the safety of amalgams for children, pregnant women and individuals sensitive to mercury.<ref name = FDA/>

==Aging==
The orthomolecular approach claims that it might be effective in the treatment of age-related brain deterioration.<ref name="pmid18046879">{{cite journal |author=Janson M |title=Orthomolecular medicine: the therapeutic use of dietary supplements for anti-aging |journal=Clin Interv Aging |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=261–5 |year=2006 |pmid=18046879 |doi=10.2147/ciia.2006.1.3.261}}</ref>

==Notable patients==
] reports that actress ] credits orthomolecular psychiatry with helping her overcome bipolar disorder.<ref>{{cite book | first = Abram | last = Hoffer | title = Masks of Madness: Orthomolecular Treatment of Mental Illness | publisher = Quarry Press | isbn= 1550822608 | year = 2001}} </ref> ] attributed his recovery from schizophrenia to orthomolecular psychiatry and advocated its adoption by mainstream medicine, but later disavowed his statements.<ref name = Edelman/>

== References ==
{{reflist|3}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |author=Braverman, Eric R. |title=The Healing Nutrients Within: Facts, Findings, and New Research on Amino Acids |publisher=Basic Health Publications |location= |year= 2003|pages= |isbn=1-59120-037-7 |oclc= |doi=}}<!-- 2003 VERSION IS A SINGLE AUTHOR -->
*{{cite book |coauthors=Hawkins, D MD| last = Pauling PhD | first = Linus | authorlink = Linus Pauling |title=Orthomolecular Psychiatry: Treatment of Schizophrenia |publisher=Freeman |location= San Francisco |year= 1973 |pages= 697}}
*{{cite book |author=Pfeiffer, Carl J. | authorlink = Carl Pfeiffer (pharmacologist) |title=Nutrition and Mental Illness: An Orthomolecular Approach to Balancing Body Chemistry |publisher=Healing Art Press |location= |year= |pages= |isbn=0-89281-226-5 |oclc= |doi=}}
* {{cite book |author=Werbach, Melvyn R. |title=Nutritional influences on mental illness: a sourcebook of clinical research |publisher=Third Line Press |location=Tarzana, Calif |year=1999 |pages= |isbn=0-9618550-8-8 |oclc= |doi=}}

== External links ==
*
* , orthomolecular treatment center whose predecessor was founded by ]
*

]
]
]

]

Revision as of 00:10, 13 March 2009

Orthomolecular psychiatry is a branch of orthomolecular medicine, an alternative medicine known for its claims that dietary supplements and other unorthodox nutritional treatments can be effective in treating mental illness. The approach uses unorthodox forms of individualized testing and diagnosis to attempt to establish an etiology for each patient's specific symptoms, and claims to tailor the treatment accordingly, using a combination of nutrients, dietary changes and medications that are claimed to enhance quality of life and functionality as well as to reduce or eliminate symptoms and the use of xenobiotic drugs.

The origins of orthomolecular psychiatry date to the 1920s, and the work of Abram Hoffer in the 1950s established the orthodoxy of the field. Hoffer's therapies focused on using niacin, among other nutrients, to treat acute schizophrenia, which was identified using the Hoffer-Osmond test. In 1973, a task force of the American Psychiatric Association examined and rejected the practice and it has been considered an alternative therapy since that time. However, the conclusions of this APA report were strongly criticized by proponents of orthomolecular psychiatry for being politically motivated and scientifically unfounded. Currently there is a clinical trial being conducted on the basis that previous trials were done without taking into account Hoffer's distinction between acute and chronic schizophrenia.

Since Hoffer's early work, other possible nutritional treatments for mental illnesses from both inside and outside the orthomolecular community, and some mainly preliminary current scientific research is consistent with some the hypotheses advanced by orthomolecular psychiatrists, but most orthomolecular practices have not been extensively tested by conventional clinical trials, instead practitioners rely on their interpretations of biochemical research, case reports and clinical series.

History

The origins of orthomolecular psychiatry can be traced to as early as 1927, and the broad roots of modern orthomolecular medicine involving Linus Pauling trace back to the 1930s. Orthomolecular psychiatry per se is generally accepted to have begun in the 1950s with the work of Abram Hoffer and Humphry Osmond, continued by the work of Carl Pfeiffer. For a time in the late 1950s and early 1960s, research into orthmolecular treatments was given much more prominence but the availability of faster acting orthodox tranquilizers and antidepressants, with clinically proven effects, began to dominate conventional psychiatric practice. In 1968, Linus Pauling gave the name and principle to the discipline of 'orthomolecular psychiatry'.

The earliest assertions by proponents of orthomolecular psychiatry were rejected in 1973 by a panel of the American Psychiatric Association. The protocols used by the APA to test the theories of orthomolecular psychiatry involved populations with chronic schizophrenia as well as populations not expected to benefit from the approach (notably populations with schizoaffective and bipolar disorder). Orthomolecular psychiatry has subsequently found scant support in mainstream psychiatry and is currently considered to be an unproven system of treatments. After 1975, research directly associated with orthomolecular psychiatry was primarily reported in Orthomolecular Psychiatry, now the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine. A National Institute of Mental Health listed, randomized controlled trial of treatment, with two additional orthomolecular related nutrients originated later in the 1950s, is being tested, and is expected to be complete in 2009.

Diagnosis

Proponents of orthomolecular psychiatry claim to have identified the causes of some psychiatric syndromes, in particular those that cause psychosis; according to orthomolecular proponents, testing for these causes guides diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic measures and therapies commonly employed include "individual biochemical workup", fasting, identifying suggested allergies, dietary changes, "megavitamin" therapy, aminoacids, and other so-called pharmacologic nutrients.

Treatment

Treatment generally involves the administration of the 'right' substances (ortho meaning right in Greek); generally this involves administration of high doses of vitamins, essential fatty acids and other substances already produced or required by the body. Orthomolecular psychiatrists do not categorically refuse to prescribe psychotropic medications; antipsychotics are often used to stabilize a patient, and anti-epileptics (dilantin in particular) are occasionally used to treat the conditon called by orthomolecular doctors, 'histadelia.' Not infrequently, the improvements orthomolecular psychiatrists can adduce are claimed to be sufficient to allow patients to reduce, but not eliminate, their reliance on conventional psychotropic drugs.

Orthomolecular methods have been claimed as effective in treating bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD and some of its sub-types., and tardive dyskinesia. The Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine has also referred to a reported case of a recovery from a diagnosis of Alzheimer's attributed partly to orthomolecular treatment to chelate and reduced exposure to aluminium.

Specific conditions

Schizophrenia

According to orthomolecular psychiatry, the causes of psychotic disorders include pyroluria, histadelia (elevated histamine and basophiles), histapenia with high serum copper (low histamine with high copper), food allergy, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism in the presence of normal thyroid values, heavy metal intoxications, as well as other rarer conditions.

Hoffer and Osmond developed and used the "Hoffer-Osmond Diagnostic test" of perception, their biochemical research as available in the 1950s and 1960s, and length of illness, acute vs. chronic, to identify, differentiate and monitor schizophrenic patients' progress, with more specific classifications in schizophrenia for orthomolecular treatment than the then accepted, broader classifications of the schizophrenizas. Many orthomolecular physicians still prescribe an initial course of antipsychotics for schizophrenic patients with the long-term goal returning patients to health, and avoiding antipsychotics due to their side-effects. Orthomolecular psychiatry's goal of weaning patients from conventional neuroleptic drugs follows 'Pfeiffer's Law', "For every drug that benefits a patient, there is a natural substance that can achieve the same effect".

A single study of megavitamin and dietary therapy to treat schizophrenia was tested in 1999 and found to be effective at increasing serum levels of vitamins, but did not show any impact on symptoms of schizophrenia.

Bipolar disorder

Omega 3 fatty acids have been demonstrated to assist in treating bipolar disorder, in keeping with orthomolecular psychiatry's assertion that foods can be used to treat mental illness. Omega fatty acids also show promise or use in treating many other conditions.

Depression

The orthomolecular treatment of depression generally consists of treating histadelia, which can cause depression with and without psychosis, with methionine, or augmenting other amino acid imbalances. The coenzyme S-adenosyl methionine is effective in treating some forms of depression. One paper in the Lancet reported that S-adenosylmethionine was as effective as conventional antidepressants, and linked depression to a disorder of methylation. Pfeiffer and others advocate the use of methionine, which is a precursor to S-adenosyl methionine, to treat some forms of depression, but have not published any clinical trials that would test the effectiveness of this therapy. Mainstream psychiatry is, however, coming to report that some depressive disorders linked to suicide are linked to very elevated rates of methylation.


The amino acid tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin, is also used to treat some forms of depression; significant differences were found between plasma tryptophan levels in patients suffering from depression and healthy controls. Mainstream psychiatry often treats depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. There are reports that tryptophan is effective in the treatment of mania.

Treatment centers

Currently, orthomoleculary psychiatry continues to be investigated by a small number of researchers. The Pfeiffer Treatment Center is dedicated to the research and use of orthomolecular psychiatry in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, and violent criminal behavior.

Relationship to mainstream psychiatry

Orthomolecular psychiatry has been rejected by the mainstream medical community, as has been the use of dietary interventions to treat psychological health, although in recent years the psychiatric research community has cautiously began to reevaluate their skepticism of the use of dietary interventions to optimize mental well-being. Critics have noted that the claims advanced by its proponents are considered unsubstantiated, and even false, by conventional psychiatry. Authoritative bodies such as the National Institute of Mental Health and American Academy of Pediatrics have criticized orthomolecular treatments as ineffective and potentially toxic.

A 1973 task force of the American Psychiatric Association charged with investigating orthomolecular claims, but instead focused on niacin monotherapeutically (the earliest version of treatment, ca. 1952) for a different kind of patient population, unanimously concluded:

This review and critique has carefully examined the literature produced by megavitamin proponents and by those who have attempted to replicate their basic and clinical work. It concludes in this regard that the credibility of the megavitamin proponents is low. Their credibility is further diminished by a consistent refusal over the past decade to perform controlled experiments and to report their new results in a scientifically acceptable fashion. Under these circumstances this Task Force considers the massive publicity which they promulgate via radio, the lay press and popular books, using catch phrases which are really misnomers like "megavitamin therapy" and "orthomolecular treatment," to be deplorable.

A study of the effectiveness of an orthomolecular treatment for acute schizophrenia began in 2005, attempting to adequately address the failings of previous APA studies to use an appropriate treatment group and intervention.

Controlled studies using the orthomolecular approach have been few. Those that were done were performed in chronic schizophrenia or in populations that included bipolar and schizoaffective patients. Both of these diagnostic groups are not today considered to benefit from the orthomolecular approach. Moreover, some negative studies of high-dose niacin were done in patients who were not otherwise given general counseling for good diet."; compared with a basic, modern orthomolecular regimen.

Proponents consider the 1973 APA task force report error laden with sweeping, scientifically unfounded conclusions, highly politicized, and that its studies failed to use similar methods, materials and subjects as the original work. The APA report's criticism alleges inadequate controlled trials because Hoffer quit running additional blinded tests that he had come to view as unethical for his patients, especially since the results of his previous double blinded tests went unheeded. The APA's assertion is made despite Hoffer's claim to have run the first double blind controlled test in psychiatry, on megavitamin therapies, with a total four double blinded tests, up to 19 years before the APA task force report, as well as being supported by two independent double blinded tests and an extensive biochemical research program. One of the APA report's five authors, psychologist JR Wittenborn, reacting to Hoffer's specific criticisms, later re-analyzed his original double blind study favorably with respect to orthomolecular psychiatry, obtaining the same result as Hoffer, and never received NIMH or APA support again. According to Hoffer, APA task force co-author Thomas Ban was well known for his tranquilizer studies and that Ban previously stated that much of his income derived from grants from companies and other sources interested in selling tranquilizers. APA task force co-author, then NIMH member Loren Mosher, prior to the serving on the panel, had stated forcefully that if every psychiatrist in the USA believed that megavitamin therapy helped schizophrenic patients, he would not believe it. Mosher later resigned from the American Psychiatric Association in total disgust for reasons unrelated to orthomolecular psychiatry, and referred to the organization as a "drug company patsy." In any event, allegations of misconduct surround panels that influence mainstream psychiatry to this day.

Current research

Food allergies

A 2006 literature review noted that studies had found that the frequency of schizophrenia in patients with celiac disease to be significantly above average; one study found schizophrenia to occur in patients with celiac disease 3.2 times as often as in the general population. The review reported that some studies suggest that removal of gluten from the diet of a subset of schizophrenic patients may reduce symptoms in a subset of patients, but that others have seen no effect from dietary changes. It noted that the sample sizes in the studies that found no improvement were very small, so that if only a relatively small subset of schizophrenics do improve, the odds of these studies, one of which was otherwise flawed, not including any of these less common cases was between 48% and 75%. The review attributed the hesitancy with which these positive results have been been received to the fact that many of them had been reported by a group lead by the same researcher, FC Dohan. Dohan reported in one study of 102 patients that 62% of the patients in a locked ward could be discharged to an unlocked ward within 7 days compared to only 36% on a high cereal diet. Another study found that after 90 days, 37.2% of the patients on a gluten and milk-free diet had been discharged from the locked ward compared to 16.1% on a diet rich in cereals. Neither study was double blind, however secretly adding gluten unbeknownst to patients or staff was found to negate the observed different rate of recovery. Other studies not conducted by Dohan have reported similar findings, or symptom improvement on a gluten-free diet which dramatically worsened when gluten was reintroduced.

Also mentioned was a 1997 article about a woman with schizophrenia and celiac disease who experienced a remission of both illnesses when gluten was removed from her diet. SPECT scans before and after the adoption of a gluten-free diet change showed a remarkable resolution of the decreased blood flow to the brain's cortex, which is associated with schizophrenia. The review concluded that large randomized clinical trials (RCTs) will be required to verify if there is a genuine causal relationship between diet and schizophrenia. The problem is that RCTs are very costly, and since it is impossible to patent a diet, there is no motivation for the pharmaceutical or other industry to fund such a trial. Removing gluten and other allergens had long been recommended by orthomolecular psychiatrists when indicated.

Copper

The only neurological disease that has been unambiguously proved to be caused by an accumulation of copper to toxic levels is a genetic disorder called Wilson's disease. Carl Pfeiffer proposed that a form of schizophrenia or dementia he named histapenia could sometimes be accompanied by the accumulation of toxic levels of copper without the liver damage copper toxicity causes in Wilson's disease; his beliefs were dismissed by the mainstream medical community. More recently there has been considerable mainstream scientific interest in the hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease may instead involve reductions in the levels of copper in the brain. These results have led to initial clinical trials of copper supplements as a possible treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The use of the copper chelator clioquinol to treat changes in copper levels has also been proposed. This compound showed promise in initial studies, but a recent meta-analysis stated that firm conclusions cannot be made from these small-scale trials. However, if this effect is genuine, the mechanism of action of this drug is unclear. One scientist investigating clioquinol theorizes that the cause of Alzheimer's is a build-up of copper and zinc in the brain, and believes clioquinol will be useful in absorbing the metals and dissolving the amyloid plaques associated with the disease, but others suggest that clioquinol may be an ionophore that transports copper into the brain.

A scientist specifically pursuing research in orthomolecular psychiatry has found that women who suffer from postpartum depression on average have a strongly significant higher level of plasma copper than women who haven't suffered from postpartum depression, and that males with a history of violence and assault have a significantly higher median blood copper / zinc ratio.

Histadelia

Carl Pfeiffer posited the existence of a syndrome called "histadelia"; this is claimed to be marked by unnaturally high blood levels of the naturally occurring chemical messenger histamine as well as so-called "undermethylation", which Pfeiffer suggested might cause depression and psychosis. Pfeiffer gave the amino acid methionine to people that he considered had this syndrome. Although there is no published scientific evidence that methionine is effective in the treatment of these mental illnesses, one trial has been published that suggested the coenzyme S-adenosyl methionine is effective in the treatment of depression.

Amalgam intoxication

Between 1997 and 1999 the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine published articles that suggested there was a correlation between amalgam fillings and schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and multiple sclerosis. Anecdotal accounts also suggested similar ideas, with in 1998 a dentist publishing that a patient who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but whose symptoms resolved after her amalgam fillings were replaced. The patient's neurologist subsequently concluded that she had never suffered from multiple sclerosis. Another patient described in this study had been almost completely unable to work because of psychological and physical ailments deemed to be psychosomatic, almost completely recovered after her amalgam fillings were removed. Another dentist has written a book describing what he claims are recoveries from multiple sclerosis after the removal of amalgam fillings. A paper on the effects of amalgam fillings on the immune system reported that they can cause the appearance of basophil granulocytes, which are seldom seen in amalgam-free patients. Pfeiffer reported that some schizophrenic patients had extremely high basophil counts. These ideas are not accepted in mainstream science, and a recent meta-analysis of four epidemiological studies found significant differences between the findings of the individual studies, but on average only a slight but insignificant association between amalgam fillings and multiple sclerosis. The United States Public Health Service and American Dental Association's position statements on dental amalgams is that they do not pose a significant risk of adverse health consequences and are a cost-effective, durable and effective option for dental fillings, though an FDA panel felt that there was insufficient research for an unequivocal statement on the safety of amalgams for children, pregnant women and individuals sensitive to mercury.

Aging

The orthomolecular approach claims that it might be effective in the treatment of age-related brain deterioration.

Notable patients

Abram Hoffer reports that actress Margot Kidder credits orthomolecular psychiatry with helping her overcome bipolar disorder. Mark Vonnegut attributed his recovery from schizophrenia to orthomolecular psychiatry and advocated its adoption by mainstream medicine, but later disavowed his statements.

References

  1. Menolascino FJ, et al. "Orthomolecular Therapy: Its History and Applicability to Psychiatric Disorders", Child Psychiatry and Human Development, Vol.18(3), Spring 1988, pp 140-1
  2. ^ Lerner, V (2005-08-31). "Treatment of Acute Schizophrenia With Vitamin Therapy". Clinicaltrials.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  3. Syd Baumel (Aug 2000) "Chapter 5, The Orthomolecular Medical Approach to Depression", "Chapter 6, Vitamin Power", Dealing with Depression Naturally: Complementary and Alternative Therapies, 2nd ed, McGraw-Hill; ISBN 0658002910
  4. Reiter PJ: Behandlung von Dementia Praecox mit metallsalzen. Mangan. Z. Neur., 108:464-480, 1927 As quoted in Carl C. Pfeiffer, Ph.D., M.D. and Scott LaMola, B.S. Zinc and Manganese in the Schizophrenias, Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry, Vol. 12, No. 3, 1983
  5. Kay, Lily E. (1993). The molecular vision of life: Caltech, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the rise of the new biology. Oxford : Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195111435.
  6. Olson, G (2006-04-01). "Orthomolecular medicine: Vitamins are key to mental health". Common Ground. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  7. Pauling L (1968). "Orthomolecular psychiatry. Varying the concentrations of substances normally present in the human body may control mental disease" (PDF). ]. 160 (825): 265–71. PMID 5641253.
  8. Pauling, L (1973). Orthomolecular Psychiatry: Treatment of Schizophrenia. San Francisco: Freeman. p. 697. ISBN 0716708981. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Pauling L, Wyatt RJ, Klein DF, Lipton MA (1974). "On the orthomolecular environment of the mind: orthomolecular theory". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 131 (11): 1251–67. PMID 4608217.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Barrett M.D., Stephen (2000-07-12). "Orthomolecular Therapy". Quackwatch.org. Retrieved 2008-01-02. Cite error: The named reference "QW" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  11. ^ Eva Edelman (2001). Natural Healing for Schizophrenia: And Other Common Mental Disorders. Borage Books. ISBN 0-9650976-7-6.
  12. Hoffer, Abram (1999). Dr. Hoffer's ABC of Natural Nutrition for Children: With Learning Disabilities, Behavioral Disorders, and Mental State Dysfunctions. Quarry press. ISBN 1550821857.
  13. Tuormaa, Tuula (1996). "The adverse effects of manganese deficiency on reproduction and health: A literature review" (abstract). J Orthomolecular Med. 11 (2). Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  14. Foster, HD (2000). "How aluminum causes Alzheimer's disease: The implications for prevention and treatment of Foster's Multiple Antagonist hypothesis" (pdf). The Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine. 15 (1): 21–51.
  15. Paul Barney. Doctor's Guide to Natural Medicine: The Complete and Easy-To-Use Natural Health Reference from a Medical Doctor's Perspective. Pleasant Grove, UT: Woodland Publishing. ISBN 1-885670-84-2.
  16. Vaughan K, McConaghy N (1999). "Megavitamin and dietary treatment in schizophrenia: a randomised, controlled trial". Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 33 (1): 84–8. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1614.1999.00527.x. PMID 10197889.
  17. Stoll AL, Locke CA, Marangell LB, Severus WE (1999). "Omega-3 fatty acids and bipolar disorder: a review". Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids. 60 (5–6): 329–37. doi:10.1016/S0952-3278(99)80008-8. PMID 10471117.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. Kidd PM (2007). "Omega-3 DHA and EPA for cognition, behavior, and mood: clinical findings and structural-functional synergies with cell membrane phospholipids". Altern Med Rev. 12 (3): 207–27. PMID 18072818.
  19. Kagan BL, Sultzer DL, Rosenlicht N, Gerner RH (1990). "Oral S-adenosylmethionine in depression: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial" (abstract). Am J Psychiatry. 147 (5): 591–5. PMID 2183633. Retrieved 2007-02-16.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Falk WE; et al. (1990). "The antidepressant potential of oral S-adenosyl-l-methionine". Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 81 (5): 432–6. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1990.tb05476.x. PMID 2113347. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. Reynolds EH, Carney MW, Toone BK (1984). "Methylation and mood". Lancet. 2 (8396): 196–8. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(84)90482-3. PMID 6146753.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Pfeiffer, Carl C. Nutrition and Mental Illness: An Orthomolecular Approach to Balancing Body Chemistry. Healing Art Press. ISBN 0-89281-226-5.
  23. Poulter MO (2008). "GABAA receptor promoter hypermethylation in suicide brain: implications for the involvement of epigenetic processes". Biol Psychiatry. 64 (8): 645–52. PMID 18639864.
  24. Pfeiffer MD PhD, Carl (2003). The Healing Nutrients Within. San Francisco: Basic Health Publications. p. 448. ISBN 1591200377. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  25. Chouinard G; et al. (1985). "A controlled clinical trial of L-tryptophan in acute mania". Biol Psychiatry. 20 (5): 546–57. doi:10.1016/0006-3223(85)90026-5. PMID 10471117. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  26. Miller M (1996). "Diet and psychological health". Altern Ther Health Med. 2 (5): 40–8. PMID 8795935.
  27. Eat it up and be a good boy. The Economist, February 2, 2008
  28. Gesch CB et al, Influence of supplementary vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids on the antisocial behaviour of young adult prisoners. Randomised, placebo-controlled trial., Br J Psych, 2002, Vol. 181, pp. 22-28 2002
  29. Stoll AL, Locke CA, Marangell LB, Severus WE (1999). "Omega-3 fatty acids and bipolar disorder: a review". Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids. 60 (5–6): 329–37. doi:10.1016/S0952-3278(99)80008-8. PMID 10471117.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. Bennett, Forrest C. "Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation in Down's Syndrome". Retrieved 2007-02-13.
  31. Lipton M; et al. (1973), Task Force Report on Megavitamin and Orthomolecular Therapy in Psychiatry, Washington D.C.: American Psychiatric Association {{citation}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help); as cited in Barrett M.D., Stephen (2000-07-12). "Orthomolecular Therapy". Quackwatch.org. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  32. ^ "Megavitamin Therapy In Reply To Task Force Report on Megavitamin and Orthomolecular Therapy in Psychiatry" (PDF). 1976. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |source= ignored (help)
  33. Hoffer, Abram (2005). Adventures in Psychiatry: The Scientific Memoirs of Dr. Abram Hoffer. Toronto: KOS Publishing. Review
  34. ^ Wittenborn JR, Weber ES, Brown M (1973). "Niacin in the long-term treatment of schizophrenia". Arch. Gen. Psychiatry. 28 (3): 308–15. PMID 4569673.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. Hoffers, A (1999). "The adrenochrome hypothesis" (PDF). Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine. 14 (1). {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  36. Wittenborn JR (1974). "A search for responders to niacin supplementation". Arch. Gen. Psychiatry. 31 (4): 547–52. PMID 4607587.
  37. Hoffer, Abram (1996). "The Vitamin Paradigm Wars, Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients".
  38. Loren R. Mosher, M.D. to Rodrigo Munoz, M.D., President of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), Letter of Resignation from the American Psychiatric Association, 4 December 1998
  39. Bernstein, Adam (2004-07-20). "Contrarian Psychiatrist Loren Mosher, 70 (obituary}". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  40. Farley, Robert (2008-04-12). "Drug research to test or to tout?". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  41. Remshaw, Emily (2008-10-28). "State medication protocol researchers sought money from drug firms". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  42. Eaton W; et al. (2004). "Coeliac disease and schizophrenia: population based case control study with linkage of Danish national registers". BMJ. 328: 438–9. doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7437.438. PMID 14976100. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  43. Dohan FC; et al. (1969). "Relapsed schizophrenics: more rapid improvement on a milk- and cereal-free diet". Br J Psychiatry. 115 (5): 595–6. PMID 5820122. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  44. Dohan FC; et al. (1973). "Relapsed schizophrenics: earlier discharge from the hospital after cereal-free, milk-free diet". Am J Psychiatry. 130 ((6)): 685–8. PMID 4739849. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  45. Singh MM; et al. (1983). "Study of gluten effect in schizophrenia". Arch Gen Psychiatry. 40 ((3)): 345–6. PMID 6830414. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  46. Rice JR; et al. (1978). "Another look at gluten in schizophrenia". Am J Psychiatry. 135 ((11)): 1417–8. PMID 707651. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  47. Vlissides DN; et al. (1986). "A double-blind gluten-free/gluten-load controlled trial in a secure ward population". Br J Psychiatry. 148 ((4)): 447–52. PMID 3524724. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  48. De Santis A; et al. (1997). "Schizophrenic symptoms and SPECT abnormalities in a coeliac patient: regression after a gluten-free diet". J Intern Med. 242: 421–423. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2796.1997.00200.x. PMID 9408073. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  49. Kalaydjian, A.E. (2006). "The gluten connection: the association between schizophrenia and celiac disease". Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 113 (2): 82–90. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00687.x. PMID 16423158. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  50. de Bie P, Muller P, Wijmenga C, Klomp LW (2007). "Molecular pathogenesis of Wilson and Menkes disease: correlation of mutations with molecular defects and disease phenotypes". J. Med. Genet. 44 (11): 673–88. doi:10.1136/jmg.2007.052746. PMID 17717039.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ Donnelly PS, Xiao Z, Wedd AG (2007). "Copper and Alzheimer's disease". Curr Opin Chem Biol. 11 (2): 128–33. doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2007.01.678. PMID 17300982.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  52. Rossi L, Squitti R, Calabrese L, Rotilio G, Rossini PM (2007). "Alteration of peripheral markers of copper homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease patients: implications in aetiology and therapy". J Nutr Health Aging. 11 (5): 408–17. PMID 17657362.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  53. Pajonk FG, Kessler H, Supprian T; et al. (2005). "Cognitive decline correlates with low plasma concentrations of copper in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease". J. Alzheimers Dis. 8 (1): 23–7. PMID 16155346. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  54. Ritchie CW, Bush AI, Mackinnon A; et al. (2003). "Metal-protein attenuation with iodochlorhydroxyquin (clioquinol) targeting Abeta amyloid deposition and toxicity in Alzheimer disease: a pilot phase 2 clinical trial". Arch. Neurol. 60 (12): 1685–91. doi:10.1001/archneur.60.12.1685. PMID 14676042. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  55. Jenagaratnam L, McShane R (2006). "Clioquinol for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1): CD005380. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005380.pub2. PMID 16437529.
  56. Wysocki, Bernard (2003-12-26). "Scientist is winning converts on Alzheimer's". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  57. Cherny RA, Atwood CS, Xilinas ME; et al. (2001). "Treatment with a copper-zinc chelator markedly and rapidly inhibits beta-amyloid accumulation in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice". Neuron. 30 (3): 665–76. doi:10.1016/S0896-6273(01)00317-8. PMID 11430801. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  58. Crayton JW; et al. (2007). "Elevated serum copper levels in women with a history of post-partum depression". J Trace Elem Med Biol. 21 (1): 17–21. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2006.10.001. PMID 17317521. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  59. Walsh JW; et al. (2007). "Elevated blood copper/zinc ratios in assaultive young males". Physiol Behav. 62 (2): 327–329. doi:10.1016/S0031-9384(97)88988-3. PMID 9251975. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  60. Mischoulon D; et al. (2002). "Role of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in the treatment of depression: a review of the evidence". Am J Clin Nutr. 76 ((5)): 1158S – 61S. PMID 12420702. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  61. Sibelrud RL; et al. (1999). "Psychometric evidence that dental amalgam mercury may be an etiological factor in schizophrenia" (pdf). J Orthomolecular Med. 14 (4): 201–209. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  62. Sibelrud RL; et al. (1998). "Psychometric evidence that dental amalgam mercury may be an etiological factor in manic depression" (pdf). J Orthomolecular Med. 13 (1): 31–40. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  63. Sibelrud RL; et al. (1997). "Evidence that mercury from silver dental fillings may Be an etiological factor in reduced nerve Conduction velocity in multiple sclerosis patients" (pdf). J Orthomolecular Med. 12 (3): 169–172. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  64. ^ Engel P (1998). "Health observations before and after amalgam removal" (pdf). Schweiz. Monatsschrift f. Zahnmed. 108 (8). PMID 9776669. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  65. Huggins HA (2002). Solving the MS Mystery: Help, Hope and Recovery. Matrix Inc. p. 405. ISBN 0972461116.
  66. Huggins, Hal A. Mercury and Other Toxic Metals in Humans: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Biocompatiblity of Materials : 1988, Colorado Springs,. Life Sciences Pr. ISBN 0-943685-08-7.
  67. Pfeiffer CC (1972). "Extreme basophil counts and blood histamine levels in schizophrenic outpatients as compared to normals". Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 4 ((1)): 51–9. PMID 4671910. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |doi_brokendate= ignored (|doi-broken-date= suggested) (help)
  68. Aminzadeh KK, Etminan M (2007). "Dental amalgam and multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis". J Public Health Dent. 67 (1): 64–6. doi:10.1111/j.1752-7325.2007.00011.x. PMID 17436982.
  69. ^ "Questions and Answers on Dental Amalgam". Food and Drug Administration. 2006-10-30. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  70. "ADA Statement on Dental Amalgam". American Dental Association. 2007-04-06. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  71. Janson M (2006). "Orthomolecular medicine: the therapeutic use of dietary supplements for anti-aging". Clin Interv Aging. 1 (3): 261–5. doi:10.2147/ciia.2006.1.3.261. PMID 18046879.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  72. Hoffer, Abram (2001). Masks of Madness: Orthomolecular Treatment of Mental Illness. Quarry Press. ISBN 1550822608.

Bibliography

  • Braverman, Eric R. (2003). The Healing Nutrients Within: Facts, Findings, and New Research on Amino Acids. Basic Health Publications. ISBN 1-59120-037-7.
  • Pauling PhD, Linus (1973). Orthomolecular Psychiatry: Treatment of Schizophrenia. San Francisco: Freeman. p. 697. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Pfeiffer, Carl J. Nutrition and Mental Illness: An Orthomolecular Approach to Balancing Body Chemistry. Healing Art Press. ISBN 0-89281-226-5.
  • Werbach, Melvyn R. (1999). Nutritional influences on mental illness: a sourcebook of clinical research. Tarzana, Calif: Third Line Press. ISBN 0-9618550-8-8.

External links

Categories: