Comments on: Food for the Brain schizophrenia research project

By: jonhw

jonhw — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:00:33 +0000

Hopefully a good medical doctor or psychologist would just point out that irritation can be part of a healthy life. Not everything needs to be medicalised or treated ;) Desk's still usable, though thanks for the offer. Treatment Action Campaign would be a worthy recipient, if you have any money orders to send :)

By: truth_advocate

truth_advocate — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:16:42 +0000

jonhw
October 19, 2009 at 11:10 pm
*Dear chap, sorry to hear that you have a head-shaped indent in your desk now. You may want to make an appointment with a nutritionalist as I believe you are suffering from a vitamin deficiency. Or off course you can always visit an Orthodox Doctor who has only studied 2 hours on nutrition and who will only prescribe you toxic medications (drugs)… Would you like me to send you a western union money order to replace your desk, or I could possibly refer you to a psychiatrist who specialises in “afflictions of the mind”. Kind regards-truth_advocate ;-)

By: jonhw

jonhw — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:12:11 +0000

Could you be a bit more specific, please – which research project, and where is it published? Thanks.

By: Pat Y

Pat Y — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:36:07 +0000

Have you read the research project in the U.S. which shows changes in the bain structure? This confirms the neurotransmitter theory. There is also research that shows genetic changes. How does food fit in with these?

By: Pat Cull

Pat Cull — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:00:27 +0000

Food theory sounds a bit fishy to me. It’s been going on for years with no result. Though some of the poor sufferers must be hungry as they are on such low incomes.

By: jonhw

jonhw — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:57:06 +0000

I’m in no way opposed to non-orthodox treatments (and have concerns about some common pharmaceutical treatments). I am all in favour of good research on nutrition and mental health. However – for the reasons given above – I have real concerns about this project.

If you believe that nutrition and mental health is an important topic, surely you should also be strongly opposed to poor quality research?

By: Cam

Cam — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:52:52 +0000

Yet another attempt to dismiss a non-orthodox approach to treatment. My friend was diagnosed with depression and prescribed anti-depressants – they didn’t work and when she came off them she was very very ill – the doctors answer? just take more. For her the nutrition approach worked (I’m not saying it would for everybody) and she is now back to her old self. While I agree drugs do have their place in healthcare, they aren’t always the answer to everything and if this research is looking into another way of helping a person feel better (which may or may not work but neither do many drugs they test) then so be it. Furthermore, there is a GREAT DEAL of credible, peer-reviewed research on nutrition and mental health – it might be worth taking a look.

By: Neuroskeptic

Neuroskeptic — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:40:26 +0000

On a related note, JAMA just published a trial finding omega-3 fatty acid supplementation doesn't work in depression when added to an SSRI. What will Holford say?

By: jonhw

jonhw — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:10:35 +0000

It would be fascinating to know where Food for the Brain do take their information from…

I have a head-shaped indent in my desk by now.

By: jonhw

jonhw — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:04:57 +0000

Thanks – good point, I expressed that badly. The example you give would allow blinding. Blinding dietary interventions can cause particular problems, though, which aren’t present with pills. For example, if you believed that avoiding gluten and casein cured schizophrenia, then those in the GFCF treatment group could very well figure out that this is thought by some vocal nutritionists etc. to be a cure for their condition. Also, if the ‘treatment’ diet is very strict (to the point of being potentially harmful) there would be ethical concerns about imposing a similarly strict diet on controls in the belief it would do them no good at all.