Abstracts

Orthomolecular and Botanical Treatments to Help Alleviate the Side Effects of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs.

The current standard of care for schizophrenic patients, such as continual medication with atypical antipsychotic drugs, does more harm than good. A review of the literature revealed that in addition to causing the well known side effects of extrapyramidal symptoms and tardive dyskinesia, side effects such as hyperprolactinemia, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, diabetes, cardiac arrhythmias, and even a worsening of psychosis (when used long-term) are common occurrences. Specific orthomolecular and botanical treatments might help prevent and/or reduce some of these negative side effects.

Title of abstract:
Orthomolecular and Botanical Treatments to Help Alleviate the Side Effects of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs.
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Abstracts

The Orthomolecular Treatment of Schizophrenia: A Primer for Clinicians.

The article reports on the problems with the standardmedical treatment of schizophrenia by Dr. Jonathan E. Prousky in Canada. Standard treatments use powerful atypical antipsychotic drugs (APDs) such as clozapine, and risperidone, to act on dopamine receptors within the central nervous system, and reduce symptoms of the disease for about 15-20%. However, schizophrenia patients who take the atypical APDs are at high rish for brain damage, cardiac arrhythmias, and sexual dysfunction.

Title of abstract:
The Orthomolecular Treatment of Schizophrenia: A Primer for Clinicians.
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Abstracts

Naturopathic Care for Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Anxiety is a serious personal health condition and represents a substantial burden to overall quality of life. Additionally, anxiety disorders represent a significant cost to the health care system as well as employers through benefits, coverage and days missed due to incapacity. This study sought to explore the effectiveness of naturopathic care on anxiety symptoms using a randomized trial.

Title of abstract:
Naturopathic Care for Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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Abstracts

Links between ADHD and Environmental Pollutants: Implications for Preventative Naturopathic Clinical Practice

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurobehavioural disorder with a complex etiology thought to involve genetic expression, learning and childhood development, diet, neurotransmitters, and neurotoxic exposure to pollutants. Treatment generally involves a multi-factorial approach that addresses any number of these factors with pharmacological or behavioural-based interventions.  Addressing the known impacts of neurotoxic pollutants, which are summarized in this paper, may enhance successful treatment or prevention of ADHD.

Title of abstract:
Links between ADHD and Environmental Pollutants: Implications for Preventative Naturopathic Clinical Practice
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Abstracts

Effectiveness of Vitamin D in the Treatment of Mood Disorders: A Literature Review

Depression is a mood disorder that has a significant negative impact on the lives of many individuals. Since vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in the North American population, recent scientific research is investigating the connection between insufficient vitamin D and the pathogenesis of mood disorders, as well as the nutrient’s potential as a therapeutic agent. Several epidemiological studies have shown a relationship between low levels of vitamin D and the presence of depression.

Title of abstract:
Effectiveness of Vitamin D in the Treatment of Mood Disorders: A Literature Review
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Abstracts

Understanding the serum vitamin B12 level and its implications for treating neuropsychiatric conditions: an orthomolecular perspective

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) ranks among the most useful, safe, and effective orthomolecules when treating a diverse array of neuropsychiatric conditions. However, most clinicians do not consider vitamin B12 important unless the serum level is below laboratory reference ranges. Ten research reports, summarized here, indicate metabolic consequences from low-normal (but not deficient) serum B12 levels, and/or clinical improvements following therapy that markedly increased serum B12 levels.

Title of abstract:
Understanding the serum vitamin B12 level and its implications for treating neuropsychiatric conditions: an orthomolecular perspective
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Abstracts

Mindfulness in functional gastrointestinal disorders: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Functional gastrointestinal disorders are highly prevalent and standard treatments are often unsatisfactory. Mindfulness-based therapy has shown benefit in conditions including chronic pain, mood, and somatization disorders. OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality and effectiveness reported in existing literature, we conducted a meta-analysis of mindfulness-based therapy in functional gastrointestinal disorders. Methods. Pubmed, EBSCO, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to May 2014.

Title of abstract:
Mindfulness in functional gastrointestinal disorders: a meta-analysis
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Abstracts

Existential Oppression Faced by Individuals Having Psychosis and Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is really a syndrome manifested by marked changes in the afflicted individual's functioning, perception, thinking, and behavior. The onset can be sudden or can take many years to reach some critical threshold in which the "illness" becomes so observable forcing some type of action or intervention. It is thought to arise from gene– environmental interactions within the context of a diathesis–stress milieu.

Title of abstract:
Existential Oppression Faced by Individuals Having Psychosis and Schizophrenia
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Abstracts

Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid and Psychosis: A Review

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) represent a cluster of severe mental illnesses. Vitamins are known to play a role in various aspects of health and disease; however, the exact role of vitamins B12, B6 and folic acid in the development and progression of SSD are not clear. These vitamins play a role in the one-carbon metabolism cycle which is hypothesized to be involved in schizophrenia pathogenesis.

Title of abstract:
Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid and Psychosis: A Review
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Abstracts

Diet and Psychosis: A Scoping Review

Introduction

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) represent a cluster of severe mental illnesses. Diet has been identified as a modifiable risk factor and opportunity for intervention in many physical illnesses and more recently in mental illnesses such as unipolar depression; however, no dietary guidelines exist for patients with SSD.

Title of abstract:
Diet and Psychosis: A Scoping Review
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