Cebu City - It is, without doubt, that drug prescriptions are effective. The medications have undergone years of research, tested by scientists, approved by appropriate regulatory bodies, and have passed the hands of countless doctors. However, these prescriptions are mostly meant to treat symptoms of the presenting illness. Prescriptions are effective in the short term but not in the long term.
In the National Institute on Mental Health, a 3-year follow-up, multimodal treatment study on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was done on children with ADHD that were treated with stimulants. In this study, it was concluded that those who stay on their medications are less likely to recover from their illnesses compared to those who were asked to reduce dosage or complete elimination of their drugs.
Diet and nutrition are still somewhat of trivial significance for mental health disorders and only drugs and psychotherapy are considered what could only treat serious conditions. However, in a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in 2014, vitamins and minerals, also collectively known as micronutrients were used in the treatment of ADHD in adults. It was in this study that they found out that the group that took the micronutrients were more likely to report that their ADHD symptoms were less impairing and less interfering in their work and social relationships than those who were in the placebo group. It is to be noted that the micronutrient in this study is referring to a dose significantly higher than what is normally available over the counters or in supermarkets. There are more studies like these that highlight the positive effects of micronutrient therapy in several different types of mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychosis, depression, and bipolar disorder.
As we embrace these new studies, it only proves the thing that we have known since the dawn of time. A well-nourished body and brain are better able to withstand ongoing stress and recover from illness. Giving micronutrients in appropriate doses can be an effective and inexpensive public health intervention to improve the mental health of a population following an environmental catastrophe. Because when people get well, they make a full recovery across the board, not only treating the symptoms but the underlying causes of the disease. // ND II Mary Carmeli Garrovillo, RND
