Talk:Orthomolecular psychiatry

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[edit] Orthomolecular Psychiatry:

Orthomolecular Psychiatry:

In 1979, orthomolecular psychiatry was defined in the Medical Journal of Australia as follows:

"Orthomolecular psychiatry is the study of the genetic, metabolic, endocrine, immunologic and toxic disturbances that are contributing to, perpetuating, exacerbating or even causing the psychiatric symptomatology.

"It is the investigation of vitamin (coenzyme) levels, mineral (cofactor) levels (or toxic levels of lead, copper and other heavy metals), hormone levels, immunoglobulin levels (especially IgA and IgM), electrolyte levels (especially bicarbonate, calcium, blood sugars, and so on). What can be corrected is corrected and the patient is followed up regularly."

However, in 1998, this needs updating because orthomolecular psychiatrists also use amino acids, bioflavonoids such as Quercetin and Rutin, coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone or CoQ10) and n-3 and n-6 essential fatty acids. Vitamin therapy is not synonymous with orthomolecular psychiatry. It is only a sub-speciality.

An excellent book discussing Nutritional Influences on Illness (sourcebook on clinical research) is that of Melvyn R Werbach (Assistant Clinical Professor, School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California). Also his book Nutritional Influences on Mental Illness.

These books support what I said in 1979 and now with up to date controlled double blind studies for many medical conditions and psychiatric disorders.

However, in 1998 Orthomolecular Psychiatrists also have to be aware of herbicides, pesticides, petrochemicals and other toxins and lectins in foods, and measure these in blood or urine where appropriate. Also antibodies to various tissues and organs, etc., are looked at to exclude autoimmune disease and risk for SLE, coeliac disease, etc.

By DrChrisReading - Orthomolecular Psychiatrst Dr Reading http://www.gutandmentalillness.com

[edit] Why is it any different from traditional Psychiatry?

I'd say that the study of such factors and their incidence on psychiatric symptoms and syndrommes is the reponsibility of Psychiatrists in general:

• They know about genetic, metabolic, endocrine, immunologic and toxic influences on psychiatric symptomatology - they are trained medical doctors.
• Levels of vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, other cations and anions, hormones, immunoglobulins and glucose are ordinarily measured by medical doctors and the correction of any abnormal values is a set of medical procedures that any doctor, including a psychiatrist, should be able to perform.
• Most medical doctors undergo training in toxicology that enable them to learn about herbicides, pesticides, petrochemicals and other toxins, measure them and correct imbalances.
• SLE, among other immunological disease, is a known cause of psychiatric symptomatology (i.e., "lupic psychosis").

Besides, the article is terribly written. Since I'm not a Psychiatrist, I'd rather not work on it (I'd probably delete it). --Lmsilva 21:33, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Assuming that the text hasn't changed enormously, this is a blatant distortion of the debate about orthomolecular medicine. "Levels of vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, other cations and anions, hormones, immunoglobulins and glucose are ordinarily measured by medical doctors and the correction of any abnormal values is a set of medical procedures that any doctor, including a psychiatrist, should be able to perform."

The debate is not whether doctors could and should ordinarily measure "vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, hormones, immunoglobolins" and, for all I care, their patients' distance to alpha centauri, but rather whether they are measuring the most meaningful measures, and whether they understand how best to respond to these measures.--Alterrabe 19:09, 21 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] POV tag

This article is one-sided and needs substantial cleanup; one reading it would never know that orthomolecular psychiatry is generally and rightfully considered quackery.[1] -- FRCP11 08:11, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Agreed that the article needs cleanup. -- Samir धर्म 08:13, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

You folks obviously agree with QW sentiments but do you actually have any knowledge about this subject or its history? (I have never personally met a doctor that even knew well/used a 50 year old conventional medicine overlap with orthomolecular medicine even though it is obviously cheaper, in many, perhaps most cases, more effective and scientifically documented - even the pharmas have grudgingly started using it to bolster their not so effective products). Orthomolecular medicine & psych are in fact based on an evolving natural biochemical/biological scientific approach, financed on a shoestring and a lot of sweat, that is directly counterposed to pharma commercial interests and pejoratives.--69.178.41.55 22:54, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

I am leaving the cleanup tag but pitching FRCP11's tagging, see tag Talk at npov tag Orhtomolecular medicine and Megavitamin therapies as well as "Dumped for cause".--69.178.41.55 12:40, 9 June 2006 (UTC)