BIOCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS

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[sSRI-Research] File - BIOCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF MENTAL

ILLNESS AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS

 

 

 

Minnesota Brain Bio Association

 

November 17, 1997

 

 

BIOCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS

 

William J. Walsh, Ph.D.

Health Research Institute

http://www.hriptc.org/BioTreatment.html

 

[excerpt]

 

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 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 of

patients report treatment effectiveness. However, double-blind,

placebo-controlled studies must be successfully carried out before

this promising

therapy can become part of mainstream medicine.

 

 

 

 

 

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