Integrating nutrition into mental health care: an exploratory cross-sectional survey of training, practices, barriers, and collaboration among mental health and nutrition professionals

The intersection of nutritional science, psychology, and mental health has garnered growing attention, giving rise to Nutritional Psychology as a crucial interdisciplinary field. This research investigates how professionals within these domains communicate and the challenges they encounter.

This study involved a cross-sectional analysis of survey data collected from 196 professionals, including mental health and nutrition experts and individuals from related fields. These participants were recruited through connections with the Center for Nutritional Psychology in San Jose, CA, USA. The research focused on assessing training backgrounds, practical applications, perceived obstacles, and the willingness to collaborate across these professions.

Findings indicate that 78.3% of mental health practitioners occasionally address nutritional aspects in their work, paralleling the 78.5% of nutrition professionals who discuss mental health issues with their clients. Despite this interaction, 25% of nutrition and 51% of mental health professionals reported lacking formal education in the respective other field, primarily acquiring knowledge through self-directed learning or workshops.

Participants identified the most significant barriers to collaboration as insufficient training, ambiguous professional boundaries, and a lack of common terminology. Conversely, insufficient evidence was deemed the least pressing concern. Notably, an overwhelming 99% of respondents expressed interest in evidence-based interdisciplinary training, and 96% acknowledged that collaborative efforts could enhance patient outcomes. However, only half of the nutritionists and mental health professionals had prior collaborative experiences.

In conclusion, the study highlights frequent cross-disciplinary interactions and a notable lack of formal training among practitioners, as well as a strong interest in education and collaboration. These preliminary findings suggest the need for further research with distinctively characterized and independently recruited samples to validate these insights. [NPID: Interdisciplinary, Nutritional Psychology, Nutrition Mental Health,

Year: 2026

Reference: Gurrieri, R., Hedrih, V., & Morphew-Lu, E. (2026). Integrating Nutrition into Mental Health Care: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Survey of Training, Practices, Barriers, and Collaboration Among Mental Health and Nutrition Professionals. Nutrients, 18(16), 2601. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18162601