Nutrition and behaviour.

Abstract

Dear Sir: The Seventh Annual Conference of the Canadian Schizophrenic Foundation was held in Saskatchewan on the weekend of Friday, June 2, 1978. I was attracted by the title, "Nutrition and Behaviour" and attended. We know now that behaviour is influenced by chemical events at the synapses; therefore I believe that psychiatrists should show a greater interest in substances ingested or inhaled. I assume also that few, if any, psychiatrists ever attend a meeting of this nature and so might be interested in the reaction of one of their colleagues to the event. There were about 100 people present: approximately 85% were women. This apparently represents the proportion of women in the organization. The vast majority were non-professional people, former patients, relatives of patients, and others interested in diets for prevention or treatment of illness. The men, on the other hand, were largely a professional group, mostly "orthomolecular" (3) physicians, some of whom were psychiatrists. I was interested in the kind of meals served at the meeting. The members called these meals "orthomolecular" and were able to persuade the hotel to adhere to their guidelines. The main difference, it seems, between orthomolecular meals and what might otherwise have been served was that there were no sweets. Dessert was fruit and cheese and the only bread available was whole wheat. The emphasis at "Nutrition Breaks" (no coffee breaks) was on fruit juice, but there was a coffee substitute served, and there was no bar. The group was pleasant, friendly, and cohesive, messianically radiating a message about its ideas. The attitude to the medical profession and to the establishment nutritionists appeared more one of sorrow than anger. Having read a number of issues of the "Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry", I had expected more anger to be expressed towards the medical profession. Society members were pleased when there was some indication that the medical establishment had accepted any of their ideas. There was little talk, in spite of the name of the organization, about schizophrenia or its treatment. The speakers, for the most part, were concerned with the use of nutrition as treatment.