The Ketogenic Diet in the Treatment of Schizophrenia

Evidence is emerging that supports the use of ketogenic dietary intervention in the treatment of schizophrenia and other chronic psychotic disorders. The cause of schizophrenia is unknown. Current theories include the dopamine hypothesis and the view that schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Emerging evidence suggests that bioenergetics and mitochondrial dysfunction may play a role. Long-standing clinical and epidemiologic observations have found high prevalence rates of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality in people with schizophrenia, suggesting a connection with metabolic disorders. The ketogenic diet is a metabolic intervention that may improve bioenergetic deficiencies in the brains of people with schizophrenia, resulting in improvement of clinical symptoms. Basic science, animal, and human studies are reviewed and synthesized in order to explore this exciting and emerging field.