Psychiatry with a Functional Medicine Approach
The conventional approach to addressing mental disorders relies heavily upon medication treatments that all too often do not provide significant relief for those suffering. In fact, these medications can often create other problems, such as fatigue or weight gain. It’s not just psychiatry that relies too heavily upon a medication-centered approach. This happens across the board in our medical system.
In functional medicine, providers seek to understand why a patient has developed symptoms of a disorder. The focus of an assessment goes beyond the main complaints so that there can be a more comprehensive understanding of the individual. Information is gathered using history forms, rating scales and interview. Laboratory information is also gathered as this can be critical to understand how the body is imbalanced.
The true foundation of the functional medicine model is lifestyle. It’s everything that you do throughout your day that either supports or hinders your well-being. It does take work, but it’s a lot more satisfying than the grind of being ill.
Matthew’s protocol for Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Dr. Dan Matthews developed a strategy for addressing the symptoms of DMDD that targets neurons in the limbic region of the brain. In patients with DMDD, these neurons misfire, leading to the outbursts and impulsive behavior seen in the condition. The strategy was developed using a specialized EEG that allowed Dr. Matthews and other researchers to measure the abnormal activity in the area of the amygdala or limbic region of the brain (often referred to as the lizard brain).
In this protocol, medications typically used to treat seizures are the primary medication used. They are sometimes combined with medications often used to treat ADHD. Dr. Matthews also used a medication known as amantadine which can address symptoms of ADHD better for some patients with DMDD
Therapeutic Nutritional Ketosis
The ketogenic diet is a powerful intervention for addressing symptoms of nearly every chronic mental illness. It can be used by almost anyone, no matter their age or the severity of their illness. It is safe and has been used to treat severe epilepsy in children for over 100 years.
Most people may be familiar with using low carb or keto diets for weight loss. Very few people or doctors are aware of the new evidence that ketogenic diets can result in improvements in mental health symptoms across a range of diagnoses.
If you want to explore using nutritional ketosis for your own mental health, it is critically important to have someone trained in the use of a therapeutic ketogenic diet as changes in medication are very likely to be needed. Dr. Braud has been using a low carb diet for her own health since 2017. She completed Dr. Georgia Ede’s course, Ketogenic Diets for Mental Health Clinician Training in 2023.