Abstract

A PILOTSTUDY OF THE KETOGENIC IN SCHIZOPHRENIA1M.D.,2 W. MARGARET S. EASTERLING, W. PRYER4PACHECO,M.D.,3Recently, one of the authors (A.P.) observed that some schizophrenic patients seemed to crave carbohydrates shortly before an exacerbation of their illness. Concomitantly, and before they showed other clinical symptoms, there was a loss in weight. Others have observed similar manifestations(1-2). It then occurred to the same author that schizophrenics might have difficultyin utilizing carbohydrates and thatperhaps a carbohydrate-free diet would beal.(5), (ECT)tients,found that after giving electric to a group of 7 schizophrenicbrain metabolism decreasedpaand afall was produced in arterial blood pH and Co2. According to Altschule(6) both ECT and insulin coma (ICT) decrease initially the glucose tolerance and later increase it, and the effects persist for several weeks.According to Himwich and Sullivan(7) thebeneficial. The ketogenic diet is a low CHO diet and has been known for years to produce favorable effects in certain epileptics, both in terms of seizures and behavior(3). In view of this, it has been surprising to the authors that in our limited survey of the literature we have found no reference to the specific use of the ketogenic diet in schizophrenia. However, many authors have reported variations and/or abnormalities in the