Ketogenic Diet Eliminated Schizophrenia Symptoms in Case Study

Full analysis

Dr. Chris Palmer, a psychiatrist and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, describes a patient with schizoaffective disorder — a condition combining psychosis and mood symptoms — who had tried 17 medications over eight years with no relief from daily hallucinations and paranoid delusions. After starting a ketogenic diet, the patient's auditory hallucinations resolved and his paranoid beliefs faded within six to eight weeks, without any medication change. The patient lost 160 pounds and regained the ability to live independently, complete an educational program, and appear in public without fear. Palmer stresses that anyone considering dietary changes to treat a psychiatric condition should work with a medical professional, because medications may need adjustment, and stopping psychiatric medications without supervision is dangerous.