Can Ketogenic Therapy Put OCD Into Remission?

Video Description

Can ketogenic therapy help reduce or even resolve symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)? Dr. Chris Palmer and research assistant Aaron MacDonald join Metabolic Mind to discuss one of the first published case series exploring metabolic and ketogenic interventions for OCD. In this video, you’ll learn: - Why OCD deserves more attention as a serious, life-limiting condition - How three individuals saw dramatic symptom relief using a therapeutic ketogenic diet - What role ketosis may play in symptom reduction and why results varied from two weeks to a full year - The potential mechanisms behind metabolic therapies and brain energy metabolism - Why more research, including randomized controlled trials, is urgently needed This conversation is especially valuable for clinicians, patients, and families seeking new approaches for treatment-resistant OCD. It also touches on broader implications of metabolic health across a range of mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and the importance of supervised, individualized treatment plans. Hear how both guests bring personal experience with OCD into their research, and why they’re hopeful this work will pave the way for better, much-needed options in mental health care. *Expert Featured:* Dr. Chris Palmer, MD Website: https://www.chrispalmermd.com/ Book: https://brainenergy.com/ Aaron John MacDonald, research assistant in the Metabolic and Mental Health Program at McLean Hospital *Resources Mentioned* Ketogenic diet as a therapeutic intervention for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a case series of three patients - https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1568076 Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry. Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/ *About us:* Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them. Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications. *Timestamps:* 0:00 - Introduction to Dr. Chris Palmer and research assistant Aaron MacDonald and their publication of three case studies on ketogenic therapy for OCD. 2:40 - Why did the team decide to write a case series on obsessive-compulsive disorder? 7:32 - How were the individual patients selected for the case study? How useful are case studies for pushing research and treatments forward? 12:28 - How did ketogenic therapy impact the individuals in the case study? 17:34 - How long does ketogenic therapy typically take to improve symptoms in Dr. Palmer’s experience? What were these patients’ experiences? 22:27 - How can ketogenic therapy help people mitigate side effects of medication? 25:50 - The importance of safe medication tapering with the support of a care team. 27:04 - Why does ketogenic therapy work to improve symptoms of mental illness? How do different mental illnesses relate to one another? 32:54 - What should clinicians do right now to improve their treatment of patients? 36:57 - Where can people hear more from Dr. Palmer and Aaron MacDonald?