Towards Interdisciplinary Efforts

Rucklidge & Kaplan (2016) present a series of studies conducted in the rapidly emerging field of nutrition and mental health. The authors hope to inform other scientists and bring attention to this field of research in general. This review firstly demonstrates that dietary patterns influence mental health by referring to several key studies. The work of Sanchez-Villegas and colleagues is highlighted since they found that dietary pattern, physical activity, and social activities were negatively related to the risk of depression. Moving on to research on nutritional interventions, there was a particular study that suggested that children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might require more essential fatty acids than normal to prevent deficiencies. This led to the topic of micronutrients and how these correlate with mental disorders. Testing the effectiveness of n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) in treating obsessive compulsive disorder, the researchers deduced that participants responded better if they were younger and had been diagnosed more recently. Lastly, research on epigenetics (study of non-genetic influences on gene expression) and inflammation biomarkers are discussed to explore who might benefit from nutrients. [NPID: interdisciplinary effects, inflammation, microbiome, dysbiosis, oxidative stress, probiotics, gut-brain axis, gene expression, n-acetyl-cysteine, NAC]

In this 2017 study, medical students, residents, and physicians at a Midwestern medical school were asked about their nutritional education experiences. It has been reported that most medical schools provide little to no training in nutrition to their students, although the National Academy of Sciences recommends a minimum of 25 hours of nutrition education. This study set up a series of focus groups and one-on-one interviews with the students, residents, and physicians, revealing the poor integration of nutrition into the medical curriculum (according to the students) and the residents’ desire for further education in this area. The students talked about their shadowing experiences where nutritional counseling was rare, and nutritional information passed on to patients was often outdated or incorrect. This was congruent with the residents’ comments that they felt ill-prepared to advise patients on nutrition. In conclusion, both students and residents agreed that nutritional education currently provided in medical school is inadequate. The provision of more training on nutrition could lead to better patient health outcomes. [NPID: interdisciplinary effects, nutritional education, nutrition classes]

Since patients are becoming more aware of complementary and alternative medicines, Liem (2019) finds it important to investigate psychologists’ attitudes towards this type of non-standard medical care. This present study specifically assessed and compared Australian and Indonesian psychologists’ attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicines. An online survey was sent to Indonesian psychologists (247 completed the survey), while the Australians’ attitudes were measured using a previously published study on Psychologists' Attitudes Towards Complementary and Alternative Therapies (PATCAT) scale validation. Psychologists from both countries showed similarly mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about complementary and alternative medicine. The medical models in both nations also adopt the same Western psychology education, which may be the root of the uncertainty displayed by both groups of healthcare professionals. Furthermore, both Indonesian and Australian clinical psychologists thought positively of integrating complementary and alternative medicine into psychological services. But they do believe that these “medicines” hold some risks. In conclusion, both psychologists from Australia and Indonesia had mixed perspectives on complementary and alternative medicines. These viewpoints might be reduced with clear regulation of its use in psychological services. [NPID: interdisciplinary effects, complementary medicine, alternative medicine, Australia, Indonesia]

Kazdin (2016) states that in this current environment where there is pressure to be “fashionably thin” even if one is not overweight or obese, there are countless new diets that supposedly help weight loss, and the media often feed us some non-scientifically based diets. Moreover, there are gross main-effect types of recommendations that do not consider dose or moderating factors. This type of information on “nutrition and health” is at a different level from the extensive scientific basis of this present journal. There are controlled clinical trials, for example, that demonstrate that psychiatric symptoms and disorders respond to micronutrient intervention. On the other hand, there is basic scientific literature that looks at the interaction between micronutrients and structures, functions, and cellular and neurobiological processes such as DNA, oxidative stress, mitochondria, enzymes, and metabolism. Nutrition may not be mainstream within the realm of mental health and illness research, but this journal can hopefully answer a few important questions. [NPID: interdisciplinary effects, thin, weight loss, media, micronutrients, oxidative stress, mitochondria, enzymes, metabolism]

While diet’s link with mood and behavior is evident, Watts (2011) highlights the lack of formalized educational writing on the role and application of nutritional science in mental health management. The author exposes the U.K. population’s limited consumption of fruits and vegetables, oily fish, and wholegrains. Instead, the people are said to eat large amounts of refined carbohydrates, altered fats, intensively reared meat and dairy products, as well as unknown combinations of synthetic chemicals and residues. Nutritional and environmental factors can trigger physiological responses in some individuals, affecting their mood, inducing overwhelming food/substance cravings, and increasing their risk of adopting anti-social behavior. The role of the nutritional therapist is to enhance diet and identify potential food intolerances, hormone imbalances, blood sugar problems, enzyme deficiencies, compromised gut immunity, increased nutrient requirements, a toxic metal burden or chemical sensitivities. Due to the variation in genetic and environmental factors among individuals, the nutritional therapist needs to intervene safely and effectively in mental health conditions while examining each case individually based on the multiple, highly complex factors involved. Yet, nutritional therapists are not currently part of the multidisciplinary team attending to patients with mental health problems, and at the moment work in private clinics treating clients on an individual basis. [NPID: interdisciplinary effects, United Kingdom, cravings, anti-social behavior, hormone imbalances, food intolerance, blood sugar, enzyme deficiencies, gut immunity, chemical sensitivities]