Biochemical Treatment Of Mental Illness And Behavior Disorders

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[sSRI-Research] BIOCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND

BEHAVIOR DISORDERS

 

 

Research Studies and Papers

 

Minnesota Brain Bio Association

November 17, 1997

 

 

 

 

BIOCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS

 

William J. Walsh, Ph.D.

Health Research Institute

 

Introduction

 

Treatment of schizophrenia, manic depression, and other forms of

mental illness is extraordinarily expensive, unavailable to many

Americans, and …worst of all… very limited in effectiveness. Mental

illness can strike any family. The net result is often a life of

misery for the patient, mental anguish and devastated finances for the

family, and a great public sacrifice in terms of human potential lost

and national health care costs.

 

The past few decades have seen a major advance in the understanding of

mental illness. It is now clearly understood that schizophrenia,

bipolar depression, and other mental disorders are primarily caused by

imbalances in brain neurotransmitters. Stressful events and flawed

life experiences are now viewed as aggravating factors that may

trigger a breakdown in mental functioning, but not a primary cause.

 

This improved understanding has led to a revolution in the treatment

of mental illness. In place of the psychiatrist's couch, the principal

focus is now adjustment of disordered brain chemistry through the use

of powerful drug medications. In the beginning, treatment was often

more Edisonian than scientific with a variety of tranquilizers,

neuroleptics, and other drugs applied on a trial-and-error basis. In

recent years, " designer drugs " developed to alter the functioning of

specific neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, etc., have

been introduced.

 

Medication therapy has produced wonderful benefits for many victims of

mental illness. However, these benefits are usually partial in nature.

In 1995, a typical patient with schizophrenia under medication may be

able to live without institutionalization, but usually is only a

shadow of his/her former self in terms of cognitive function,

behavioral control, and peace of mind.

 

 

Limitations of Medication Therapy

 

Any medication aimed at a specific neurotransmitter will inevitably

alter some of the dozens of other neurotransmitters. The net result is

likely to be changes in behavior or other side effects. We should not

expect that a powerful psychiatric medication will have effectiveness

without some unwanted alteration of brain function. Moreover,

schizophrenia, bipolar depression, and other mental disorders are not

single illnesses but a diverse collection of disorders, each with

different biochemistry.

Thus any single drug may have strikingly different outcomes for

different patients.

 

The development of new psychiatric drugs will not conquer mental

illness, but will instead place additional weapons in the arsenal of

the practitioner. Since mental illnesses are diverse and individual

patients are biochemically unique, a larger number of candidate drugs

will increase the likelihood of finding a beneficial medication (or

combination of medications). Thus in future times, psychiatric

patients will probably have medications with improved effectiveness

and fewer side effects. However, it is likely that these patients will

still suffer from residual mental illness and experience side effects.

 

The ultimate remedy for mental illness may not be a collection of drug

medications aimed at adjusting neurotransmitters. Advances in

molecular biology and brain chemistry will eventually identify the

basic causes and mechanisms of chemical imbalances, which may lead to

more direct (and more natural) methods of adjusting neurotransmitters.

 

Biochemical Treatment

 

The brain is a chemical factory that constantly produces

neurotransmitters throughout our lives. The raw materials are amino

acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. The step-by-step

processes by which the body produces the major neurotransmitters have

been known for years.

 

Sufficient nutrients to produce neurotransmitters can usually be

obtained from a well-balanced diet involving the major food groups.

However, many persons have absorption or metabolic disorders which

result in severe nutrient imbalances that adversely affect brain

functioning. For example, animal studies (Dakshinamurti, et.al.) have

shown that a diet low in vitamin B-6 can result in reduced serotonin

levels in the brain. This is not surprising since B-6 is a vital

cofactor required for natural synthesis of serotonin.

 

It would be a simple matter if all nutrient imbalances were

deficiencies, since a multiple vitamin/mineral supplement would then

have efficacy.

Unfortunately, most imbalances involve overloads of certain nutrients,

and multiple vitamin/mineral supplements can make these persons worse.

For example, elevated copper has been associated with paranoia

(Pfeiffer and Iliev), and high folate levels have been observed in

obsessive-compulsive schizophrenics (Pfeiffer, et.al.).

 

Biochemical treatment is a modality in which nutrient levels in blood,

urine, and tissues are balanced to improve physical and mental

functioning. The procedure involves extensive chemical analysis of

blood, urine, and tissues to define the patient's biochemistry.

Treatment requires supplements of specific amino acids, vitamins, and

minerals which need to be supplied with rifle-shot precision.

Biochemical treatment can be effective only for persons with

significant biochemical imbalances. This new therapy has been applied

primarily to victims of schizophrenia, depression, and behavior disorders.

 

Biochemical Treatment of Schizophrenia

 

In the 1950's, Abram Hoffer discovered that many persons with severe

mental illness improved greatly after treatment with vitamins B-3,

B-12, and folic acid. Subsequently, Carl Pfeiffer, M.D., Ph.D. of

Princeton, New Jersey, developed a classification system which divided

schizophrenia into three major biochemical groupings which he termed

histadelia, histapenia, and pyroluria. Pfeiffer studied more than

20,000 patients with schizophrenia and reported 90% of them fell into

one of these three categories. He developed individualized nutrient

treatments for each of these conditions and reported good treatment

effectiveness across each group. Pfeiffer (now deceased) reported

striking improvements in thousands of case histories, but

unfortunately did not carry out double-blind, controlled studies of

treatment efficacy. In the absence of double-blind studies, this

promising treatment system has been regarded as unproved.

 

The Pfeiffer Treatment Center (Naperville, IL) has treated more than

1,000 persons with a diagnosis of schizophrenia using this system. An

outcome study involving 150 patients indicated that best results are

achieved for patients under the age of 40. Referring psychiatrists

report that most patients improve significantly after biochemical

treatment, enabling lower medication dosages and reduced side effects.

Biochemical treatment for schizophrenia is most effective when

administered along with medication, counseling and other conventional

treatment. At the present state of development, biochemical treatment

usually does not result in complete freedom from medication for

persons with severe mental illness.

 

Biochemical Treatment of Depression

 

The Pfeiffer Treatment Center has observed that most victims of

depression fall into one of five biochemical classes: (1) high

histamine, (2) low histamine, (3) pyroluric, (4) high copper, and (5)

toxic overload. The treatment for these biochemical disorders is

highly individualized, with most patients reporting good treatment

effectiveness.

 

High-histamine depressives overproduce and retain excessive levels of

histamine, an important neurotransmitter which affects human behavior.

They are under-methylated resulting in generalized low levels of

important neurotransmitters such as serotonin. This syndrome often

involves seasonal variations in depression, obsessive-compulsive

behavior, inhalant allergies, and frequent headaches. Biochemical

treatment revolves around antifolates, especially calcium and methionine.

Three to six month of nutrient therapy are usually needed to correct

this chemical imbalance. As in most biochemical therapies, the

symptoms usually return if treatment is stopped.

 

Low-histamine depressives are usually nervous, anxious individuals who

are prone to paranoia and despair. They are over-methylated which

results in elevated dopamine and norepinephrine levels. Although free

of seasonal allergies, they often report a multitude of food and

chemical sensitivities. Many have a history of hyperactivity, learning

disabilities, and underachievement. Treatment focuses on use of folic

acid together with niacinamide and vitamin B-12, with about 2-4 months

required for correction of the imbalance.

 

Pyroluria is a stress disorder characterized by pronounced mood

swings, temper outbursts, and anxious depression. Many pyrolurics

report an inability to eat breakfast, absence of dream recall, and

frequent infections. Treatment centers on correcting a double

deficiency of B-6 and zinc, which is believed to result from abnormal

hemoglobin synthesis that depletes the body of these nutrients. A

positive response often occurs within the first 7 days of treatment,

with 1-2 months usually required for correction of the imbalance.

 

High-copper depressives usually have a history of hyperactivity,

tinnitus, and skin sensitivity to metals. Females with this condition

usually have significant PMS and are prone to heightened depression

during hormonal events such as childbirth and menopause. They often

report a worsening of depression after estrogen or multiple vitamins.

Treatment focuses on release of excess copper from tissues, promotion

of copper excretion, and stimulation of metallothionein (a

metal-binding protein). Caution must be exercised due to the tendency

of blood copper levels to rise during the first 10 days of treatment.

Many patients report a mild worsening over the first 3 weeks, followed

by steady improvement. A total of 60 to 90 days is usually required to

correct this imbalance.

 

Toxic substances which are capable of producing depression include

lead, cadmium, mercury, and a wide variety of organic and inorganic

chemicals.

This syndrome often involves a sudden, prolonged bout of depression

without apparent reason and without a prior history of depression.

 

Treatment varies with the type of toxic material involved, and care

must be exercised to avoid flooding the kidneys with toxins during the

early stages of treatment. Heavy-metal overloads can be corrected

quickly by in-hospital chelation, or more slowly using biochemical

treatment.

Organic chemical overloads require liberal use of antioxidants along

with avoidance of the offending substances.

 

In an outcome study of 200 depressive patients treated at the Pfeiffer

Treatment Center, approximately two-thirds reported their

anti-depressant medications were no longer necessary after biochemical

treatment. However a double-blind, controlled study is needed to

better define treatment efficacy.

 

Biochemical Treatment of Behavior Disorders

 

In the late 1970's, Dr. Walsh and co-workers developed a biochemical

classification system for behavior disorders based on trace-metal

concentrations. Based on chemical analysis data from hundreds of

violent criminals and behavior-disordered children, behavior disorders

were divided into four distinct types.

 

Type A individuals are characterized by an elevated copper/zinc ratio,

along with elevated lead and cadmium and low sodium and potassium levels.

They exhibit episodic rages which may be quite violent, and usually

exhibit remorse after they have calmed down. Patrick Sherrill who

killed 17 co-workers in an Oklahoma post office was found to have a

severe Type A imbalance. Many school children who are Type A

individuals may have mild, moderate, or severe versions of this

chemical imbalance.

 

Type B individuals are characterized by low copper/zinc ratios, along

with elevated sodium, potassium, lead and cadmium. Most exhibit

behavior disorders by age 2, and are often described as oppositional,

defiant, pathological liars, remorseless, and cruel. The incidence of

the Type B imbalance appears to be less than 0.5% in the general

population, but between 20-75% in maximum-security prisons in

Illinois, California, and Ohio. In studies of ex-convicts and violent

children, Dr. Pfeiffer found these individuals to exhibit elevated

blood histamine, low blood spermine, elevated kryptopyrroles in urine,

and zinc deficiency. Notable examples of persons with a severe Type B

imbalance include James Huberty (McDonalds massacre), serial killer

Henry Lee Lucas, and Charles Manson.

 

Type C individuals are low in most nutrients and Dr. Pfeiffer

identified their primary imbalance to be malabsorption. The majority

are slender, non-violent, impulsive persons who underachieve in school

and in the workplace.

 

Type D persons were found by Dr. Pfeiffer to exhibit glucose-control

problems. These individuals are often non-violent underachievers who

complain of irritability, fatigue, and sugar cravings.

 

The Health Research Institute (parent organization of the Pfeiffer

Treatment Center) has accumulated a data base of chemistry levels for

more than 6,500 behavior-disordered children, 800 violent criminals,

and 26 serial killers and mass murderers. We have found that about 90%

of these persons fit into one of the A/B/C/D categories.

 

In the early 1980's, Dr. Pfeiffer developed individualized biochemical

treatments for each of these behavior syndromes. Under this system,

patients are screened and treated for trace-metal imbalances,

histamine disorders, pyroluria, malabsorption, glucose disorders, and

other biochemical imbalances. Nearly 7,000 behavior-disordered persons

have been treated at the Pfeiffer Treatment Center using this system.

In four separate outcome studies involving a total of 1,400 patients,

a majority of the families reported major improvements in behavior

control after biochemical treatment. These studies indicated good

treatment effectiveness for most patients below the age of 14.

 

In a blinded, controlled study in 1992, 24 patients of the Pfeiffer

Treatment Center were tested before and after 4 months of

individualized biochemical treatment by an independent testing expert.

The test group showed clear improvements in behavior control after

treatment, whereas controls did not.

 

Our nation's problems of crime and violence will not be solved by

getting tough with criminals, building more prisons, or wider

application of the death penalty. The only hope is early

identification of behavior-disordered children and effective

treatment. Biochemical therapy represents a promising approach to this

societal problem.

 

SUMMARY

 

Biochemical treatment, originally developed for schizophrenia, has

also shown promise in the treatment of depression and behavior disorders.

 

Although still in a process of evolution, the testing methods and

treatment modalities have matured to the point that a high percentage

ofpatients report treatment effectiveness. However, double-blind,

placebo-controlled studies must be successfully carried out before

this promising therapy can become part of mainstream medicine.

 

 

 

 

HRI + Pfeiffer Treatment Center

4575 Weaver Parkway - Warrenville, IL 60555-4039

(630) 505-0300 - (630) 836-0667 fax

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