Dr. Kelly Brogan, MD. Holistic women’s health psychiatry was interviewed by host of the Anxiety Summit, Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert and Nutritionist, author of The Antianxiety Food Solution.
Psychoneuroimmunology, the new psychiatry
- The role of inflammation in anxiety and depression
- Hormones and where the endocrine system fits in
- Where inflammation comes from
- What a healthy microbiome looks like
- Natural lifestyle interventions to reverse symptoms and favorite nutraceuticals
- Why psychiatrists don’t know about this
Here are some snippets from our interview:
What psychoneuroimmunology refers to is essentially the inherent inter-connectedness between multiple systems. So, it’s about no longer looking at psychiatry as a head up phenomenon, which at best can result in limited outcomes and at worst, can be quite dangerous. And what psychoneuroimmunology implies is that there is a relationship between neurology – so, between brain science – and the immune system. It is sometimes called psychoneuroendocrinology – it also sort of ropes in the gut and the endocrine system with the implication being that you cannot treat one without knowledge about the others. So, I think it’s very exciting and really is a term that embodies functional medicine, or naturopathy at its best.
What many are speaking about is something called the cytokine model, which has been around since 1991, the first paper hypothesizing about this model. So, it’s been a growing literature for some time. And what it refers to is essentially it looks at depression or anxiety, for example, as this non-specific sort of fever that tells us actually very little about what’s causing the body to react, but tells us that there’s is an expression of imbalance and that the body is working to recalibrate. So, there’s some sort of stressor or triggers or assault and the compensatory response on the part of the body is what we are seeing as these psychiatric symptoms.
Cytokines in the blood, or inflammatory messengers, such as CRP, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha are predictive and linearly related to depression and anxiety, especially in women.
Here is Dr. Brogan’s wonderful blog post on the topic of Psychoneuroimmunology, the new Psychiatry
What is driving this inflammation? How does it get kicked off? And how does it induce depression? With the limited clinical applications and revelations that came with the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2002, we have begun to focus on where we have outsourced our physiologic functions.
The microbiome has become an important consideration, and particularly, the gut, which houses at least 10 times as many human cells as there are in our bodies, and 150 times as many genes as are in our genome. These microbes control many vital operations and are responsible for synthesis of neuroactive and nutritional compounds, for immune modulation, and for inflammatory signaling.
Here is one of the studies on how traditional diets can impact the microbiome: Intestinal microbiota, probiotics and mental health: from Metchnikoff to modern advances: Part II – contemporary contextual research
researchers reported less potentially pathogenic bacteria, yet a far greater degree of biodiversity and microbial richness in rural Africans living a traditional lifestyle and consuming traditional high fiber foods
If you are not already registered for the Anxiety Summit you can get live access to the speakers of the day here www.theAnxietySummit.com
I saw the list of 19 food types. Still looking for THE TOP 7 THERAPEUTIC FOODS.
Hi Jim
I’m not clear what you’re asking/saying – please elaborate – thanks
Trudy
Thank you for this awesome information! I know that I feel much better when I am on a low inflammation diet and taking probiotics.
This was an incredible interview. Kelly Brogan is an important pioneer in the wellness revolution and her articulation of data provides so much clarity and embodies such profound knowledge of the intricate systems that motorize our health. I thoroughly enjoy listening and learning from her. Thank you for this information, I will continue to share it.
Hi Danielle
Thank you for your lovely feedback – Kelly Brogan always delivers wonderful content and insights. I’m glad you enjoy her as much as we all do!
And thanks for sharing!
Trudy
This is the most fascinating topic there is. I am not prone to stress but I have taken antacids for many years and destroyed my gut this way. Now of course, I have leaky gut and contracted an auto-immune disease which I am now trying to get under control strictly through diet, superfoods and supplements. My doctors do not encourage me to do that (they want me on the meds)and they say I should be dead within 2 years. We’ll just have to see about that. Thanks!
Hi Isabelle
Yay that you also find this fantastic! I’m sorry that your doctors are saying this – just awful! well done for taking charge of your health with nutrition – I wish you healing and a long wonderful life
Trudy
Hi Dr Brogan,
I am just wondering if you have a general protocol that you use for OCD? Is it the diet you mentioned? What supplements do you like? Also, what do you recommend for heavy periods? I am 40.
Thnks!
Thanks, Dr Brogan, I am always enjoying your updates of latest researh and every time learn myslef. Today huge news was bacterial flora of fetus in placenta which is not that sterile as it was assumed so far. One more reason for moms-to-be lokk well after their oral health (mercury fillings and becterias should be out long time before pregnancy).
My question is about fish oils. I recently started to work with autistic children (GAPS, Homeopathy, CEASE therapy, supplements) and I suggest high EPA content fish oils, cod liver oil, also Ascorbyl palmitate in order to nourish the brain and reduce inflammation in the brain. The concept of very intense (2months) fish oil (3-6 g EPA) cure is new for me. I understood from the lecture that long term use of these omega-3 oils would be allowing the body to get used to supplementation and thus not being able to regulate omega-3/omega-6 balance so well without supplementation. Could you comment on this as my understanding so far is that omega-3 are essential acids and body can not produce them so we would need to supplement them all the time. Is the balance with omega-6 which is disrupted then? Would supplementing also omega-6 would be a solution? Thanks.