RESIDENT: The Role of Whole Dietary Interventions in the Treatment of Depression
Presenting Author(s): Dr. Usama Malik
Co-Author(s): Jennifer Swainson, Matthew Reeson, Ian Stefanuk, Mary Cummins, Sudhakar Sivapalan
Date and time: 23 Mar 2024 from 15:45 to 16:00
Location: Hawthorn C
Learning Objectives
1. Understand the current landscape of dietary interventions for depression;
2. Evaluate the methodological challenges in studying dietary interventions for psychiatric comorbidities; and
3. Recognize the need to further research and investigation.
Literature References
1. Swainson, J., Reeson, M., Malik, U., Stefanuk, I., Cummins, M., & Sivapalan, S. (2023). Diet and depression: A systematic review of whole dietary interventions as treatment in patients with depression. Journal of Affective Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.094
Abstract
Background
Depression affects over 300 million individuals globally, with a notable proportion not responding adequately to available treatments. While current depression treatment guidelines propose nutrient supplementation as a potential adjunctive therapy, comprehensive research on full dietary interventions remains scarce.
Purpose
This study aimed to systematically review published scientific literature exploring the efficacy of full dietary interventions as treatments for individuals diagnosed with depression and to assess existing evidence and theories on the relevance of diet in this context.
Methods
Utilizing OVID to search Medline, PsychINFO, EMBASE, and PubMed, a systematic search identified studies involving full dietary interventions for patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Episode, Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or Dysthymia according to DSM criteria.
Results
Out of the screened studies, only five met the inclusion criteria. All five reported mood improvements post-dietary intervention compared to the control group. However, the review highlighted significant heterogeneity in intervention approaches and outcome measures, posing challenges for direct comparisons and generalization to broader populations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this review offers preliminary evidence supporting the positive impact of dietary interventions on depressed patients. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms through which certain diets influence mood, whether through anti-inflammatory pathways or weight loss in overweight individuals, remain unclear. The study underscores the need for future large-scale
research to elucidate these mechanisms and establish more comprehensive guidelines for the role of dietary interventions in depression treatment.