Not long after Newsweek's issue on depression, Kate Loftesness of The Eugene Weekly interviewed five northwest health practitioners about "Alternatives to Medication for Mentally Ill Patients". Each of these health professionals cares for depressed patients differently:
* Ron Unger, a Eugene therapist and clinical social worker, advocates group therapy.
* David W. Oaks is director of the Eugene-based mental health activist group MindFreedom International He works to insure patients have a range of care choices available to them.
* Ira Aronin, a mental health specialist and the lead worker for access-related issues with Lane County Behavioral Health Services admits: "Our understaffed program dealing with crises and complex cases makes pursuing alternatives difficult."
* Katharine Schneider is the clinical supervisor for therapy and care management at an in-patient psychiatric unit. "We treat people with acute mental illness and incorporate a diverse array of treatments." Patients enjoy creative art therapies such as journaling and poetry writing plus yoga and some receive pharmaceutical treatments.
* Dr. Kristen Allott (interviewed in betrween PESI sessions in Eugene) places, special emphasis on diet and nutrients. "I see my practice as complementing more mainstream therapies and treatments of mental health."
The alternatives to medication for mentally ill patients in Kate's article are mentioned only sparingly. The acceptance of these and other alternatives to medication for the mentally ill is growing.
"Different Paths to Mental Health" by Kate Loftesness at this link:
www.eugneweekly.com/2010/02/11coverstory3.htrr
Friday, July 02, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
TASTY SPIN on NUT BUTTERS
Recently, I was at the Sunday afternoon Ballard Farmer's Market enjoying all the colors of the fresh flowers and vegetables when I stumbled upon Marilyn's Nut Butters. Marilyn has a great idea. She adds spices to nut butter. They are yummy! She uses really good spices for foods cooked for folks living in cold, damp environments--like summers in Seattle!
Although I really like Marilyn's basic idea, I could not help but notice that in a couple of her nut butters, she adds sugar which throws off the carbohydrate to carbohydrate protein ratio. (Join me on July 14th at the Greenwood Senior Center for a session on how to read labels and I will explain the importance of those ratios.)
Meanwhile, check out Marilyn's website (www.marilynsnutbutters.com/) and visit her at the Ballard Farmer's Market. You may even want to experiment with your own favorite spices by adding them to a couple of tablespoons of nut butter. They taste delicious as a snack on apples, carrots or just spoons.
Although I really like Marilyn's basic idea, I could not help but notice that in a couple of her nut butters, she adds sugar which throws off the carbohydrate to carbohydrate protein ratio. (Join me on July 14th at the Greenwood Senior Center for a session on how to read labels and I will explain the importance of those ratios.)
Meanwhile, check out Marilyn's website (www.marilynsnutbutters.com/) and visit her at the Ballard Farmer's Market. You may even want to experiment with your own favorite spices by adding them to a couple of tablespoons of nut butter. They taste delicious as a snack on apples, carrots or just spoons.
A USEFUL TOOL for ANXIETY
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 40 million American adults, ages 18 and older, have an anxiety disorder. For those of you who are curious, or if you may be one of those 40 million with anxiety, here is a relatively inexpensive way to begin to answer your own questions.
This audio CD, available through the PESI online bookstore, is entitled "Depression and Nutrition: Practical Tools to Treat Depression". The CD carefully lays out the connection between processed foods and depression. Most helpful are the 10 Critical Questions for individuals suffering with anxiety. This seminar on audio CD is also a helpful addition to clinic libraries of mental health professionals. Audio CD #2DK042285 for only $59.99 is available through the following PESI link:
http://www.pesi.com/bookstore/Nutrition and Anxiety Practical Techniques to
Decrease Anxiety Panic Attacks-details.aspx
This audio CD, available through the PESI online bookstore, is entitled "Depression and Nutrition: Practical Tools to Treat Depression". The CD carefully lays out the connection between processed foods and depression. Most helpful are the 10 Critical Questions for individuals suffering with anxiety. This seminar on audio CD is also a helpful addition to clinic libraries of mental health professionals. Audio CD #2DK042285 for only $59.99 is available through the following PESI link:
http://www.pesi.com/bookstore/Nutrition and Anxiety Practical Techniques to
Decrease Anxiety Panic Attacks-details.aspx
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
UPCOMING TALKS by DR. ALLOTT
Thursday, June 10th, 11:00 AM PST
PESI Teleconference:
"Depression & Nutrition: Practical Tools to Treat Depression"
For more information, please contact PESI, Depression & Nutrition Teleseminar
Wednesday, July 14th, 1:00-2:00PM PST, Greenwood Senior Center
525 North 85th Street, Seattle, WA
HANDS-ON CLASS
"LABELS: What Do They Mean?
What can we learn by reading labels correctly? What is the difference between "Total Carbohydrates" and sugar? How much protein verses carbohydrates is healthy? Is "fat-free" really free of fat? Bring labels of your favorite foods and we will get down to the finer points we can learn from labels.
THE DEBATE OVER ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATIONS
People often ask me as a provider of alternatives to antidepressant medications, if I am against then? My reply is "No, they save lives. They are often band-aids, however, and to remove them, the cause has to be addressed. This may include examining the emotional causes of depression by talking to a therapist or addressing the physical causes by making sure that the client is getting enough of the right nutrients to make neurotransmitters."
I also like to point out that part of the reason that antidepressants are not a very predictable medication is that the definition of depression is not a physiological definition. It is a behavioral definition. There is often some shame around using an antidepressant medication. This I feel is unfortunate. By way of comparison, there is little shame associated with taking hypertension medications. There is often more one can do to affect hypertension such as reduce salt, increase exercise and learn to meditate. All of which seem a lot easier than changing a challenging childhood.
NATION-WIDE CONVERSATION: USE of POPULAR DRUGS in the TREATMENT of DEPRESSION
On February 8, 2010, Newsweek Magazine's cover story featured an article by Sharon Begley entitled "The Depressing News About Antidepressants". Ms Begley's banner following the article title reads: "Studies suggest that the popular drugs are no more effective than a placebo. In fact, they may be worse."
Sharon Begley Factoid: "The number of Americans taking antidepressants doubled in a decade from 13.3 million in 1996 to 27 million in 2005."
Much of Begley's article is a re-cap of landmark research studies and reports. For example, early studies state that "antidepressants (tricyclics to the newer selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors--SSRIs--that target serotonin such as Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac and their generic descendants plus newer drugs that also target nor epinephrine) help about three-quarters of people with depression who take them,"
The Journal of the American Medical Association recently underscored the "Yes, but" findings: "Yes, the drugs are effective, in that they lift depression in most patients, but the benefit is hardly more than what patients get when they, unknowingly and as part of a study, take a dummy pill-a placebo." For some scientists who study depression and its treatments, the previously named antidepressants are "basically expensive Tic Tacs". Belief appears to be very good medicine.
Irving Kirsch and Guy Sapirstein, psychology researchers from the University of Connecticut, through their study did prove that patients improved by taking the drugs AND with the dummy pills. "The majority of the drugs' effect came from the fact that patients expected to be helped by them, and not from any direct chemical action on the brain, especially for anything short of very severe depression." By no means, does Kirsch advocate that patients suffering from depression who are presently taking the drugs stop. However, he does suggest that prescribing drugs is "not the best first choice in dealing with depression."
You may read the complete article at this link: http://www.newsweek.com.
I also like to point out that part of the reason that antidepressants are not a very predictable medication is that the definition of depression is not a physiological definition. It is a behavioral definition. There is often some shame around using an antidepressant medication. This I feel is unfortunate. By way of comparison, there is little shame associated with taking hypertension medications. There is often more one can do to affect hypertension such as reduce salt, increase exercise and learn to meditate. All of which seem a lot easier than changing a challenging childhood.
NATION-WIDE CONVERSATION: USE of POPULAR DRUGS in the TREATMENT of DEPRESSION
On February 8, 2010, Newsweek Magazine's cover story featured an article by Sharon Begley entitled "The Depressing News About Antidepressants". Ms Begley's banner following the article title reads: "Studies suggest that the popular drugs are no more effective than a placebo. In fact, they may be worse."
Sharon Begley Factoid: "The number of Americans taking antidepressants doubled in a decade from 13.3 million in 1996 to 27 million in 2005."
Much of Begley's article is a re-cap of landmark research studies and reports. For example, early studies state that "antidepressants (tricyclics to the newer selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors--SSRIs--that target serotonin such as Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac and their generic descendants plus newer drugs that also target nor epinephrine) help about three-quarters of people with depression who take them,"
The Journal of the American Medical Association recently underscored the "Yes, but" findings: "Yes, the drugs are effective, in that they lift depression in most patients, but the benefit is hardly more than what patients get when they, unknowingly and as part of a study, take a dummy pill-a placebo." For some scientists who study depression and its treatments, the previously named antidepressants are "basically expensive Tic Tacs". Belief appears to be very good medicine.
Irving Kirsch and Guy Sapirstein, psychology researchers from the University of Connecticut, through their study did prove that patients improved by taking the drugs AND with the dummy pills. "The majority of the drugs' effect came from the fact that patients expected to be helped by them, and not from any direct chemical action on the brain, especially for anything short of very severe depression." By no means, does Kirsch advocate that patients suffering from depression who are presently taking the drugs stop. However, he does suggest that prescribing drugs is "not the best first choice in dealing with depression."
You may read the complete article at this link: http://www.newsweek.com.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
RECIPE: GLUTEN-FREE, GRAIN-FREE, SUGAR-FREE FRUITBREAD
My good friend Alida Schulyer provided me with this recipe. I like is because it is made with real food, is wheat-free and high in protein. It tastes delicious. For me, it makes a great breakfast bread.
Have ingredients at room temperature. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease with butter and then line with parchment or wax paper the bottoms and sides of your pans. This recipe is for 5 little bread pans or 2 regular bread pans. Assemble the ingredients below:
4 cups finely ground raw almond flour
5 eggs
¾ lb or 3 sticks of butter (okay to use less)
1 ½ cups honey (use ½ cup less to make a breakfast bread)
¾ to 1cup apple cider, or brandy
1 cup applesauce
½ cup citrus peel diced into ¼ inch squares (lemon, orange, lime or grapefruit)
The juice of one lemon
1-teaspoon salt (use 1 tsp. more if butter is not salted)
1-teaspoon baking soda
1-teaspoon or more cinnamon to taste
1-teaspoon or more ginger to taste
½-teaspoon or more cloves to taste
½-teaspoon or more cardamom
3-5 cups of dried fruit including currents, apricots, figs, cherries, etc
1-2 cups chopped pecans
Cut dried fruit into small pieces using a sharp knife or scissors. Set aside.
Grind raw almonds in food processor or blender to consistency of cornmeal. Place into large bowl, add and blend in baking soda, salt and spices.
In a food processor, or in a medium separate bowl, blend together the butter, honey, lemon juice, applesauce and eggs. If doing this by hand, first melt the butter, next add in honey and blend, and then add in beaten eggs and blend; add applesauce and blend. Add ¾ of the juice, applesauce or brandy to the egg mix and blend.
Slowly add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients (ground almonds etc.). The batter should be thick and sticky but not dry. Add additional liquid if needed. Add, by folding in, the dried fruit and chopped nuts one cup at a time until you are satisfied with the ratio of fruit and batter. I like a lot of fruit and nuts in mine, so I add as much as the batter can hold.
Spoon into greased and paper-lined bread pans. Fill almost to the top of the bread pan. Smooth with a spatula and decorate with whole pecans (optional). Cook in preheated oven for 2-5 hours (depending on pan size) or until a fork or toothpick comes out clean. You may want to turn the oven down to 300 after the first 45 minutes, if the edges of fruitcake or the pecans on top start to look brown.
Enjoy!
Have ingredients at room temperature. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease with butter and then line with parchment or wax paper the bottoms and sides of your pans. This recipe is for 5 little bread pans or 2 regular bread pans. Assemble the ingredients below:
4 cups finely ground raw almond flour
5 eggs
¾ lb or 3 sticks of butter (okay to use less)
1 ½ cups honey (use ½ cup less to make a breakfast bread)
¾ to 1cup apple cider, or brandy
1 cup applesauce
½ cup citrus peel diced into ¼ inch squares (lemon, orange, lime or grapefruit)
The juice of one lemon
1-teaspoon salt (use 1 tsp. more if butter is not salted)
1-teaspoon baking soda
1-teaspoon or more cinnamon to taste
1-teaspoon or more ginger to taste
½-teaspoon or more cloves to taste
½-teaspoon or more cardamom
3-5 cups of dried fruit including currents, apricots, figs, cherries, etc
1-2 cups chopped pecans
Cut dried fruit into small pieces using a sharp knife or scissors. Set aside.
Grind raw almonds in food processor or blender to consistency of cornmeal. Place into large bowl, add and blend in baking soda, salt and spices.
In a food processor, or in a medium separate bowl, blend together the butter, honey, lemon juice, applesauce and eggs. If doing this by hand, first melt the butter, next add in honey and blend, and then add in beaten eggs and blend; add applesauce and blend. Add ¾ of the juice, applesauce or brandy to the egg mix and blend.
Slowly add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients (ground almonds etc.). The batter should be thick and sticky but not dry. Add additional liquid if needed. Add, by folding in, the dried fruit and chopped nuts one cup at a time until you are satisfied with the ratio of fruit and batter. I like a lot of fruit and nuts in mine, so I add as much as the batter can hold.
Spoon into greased and paper-lined bread pans. Fill almost to the top of the bread pan. Smooth with a spatula and decorate with whole pecans (optional). Cook in preheated oven for 2-5 hours (depending on pan size) or until a fork or toothpick comes out clean. You may want to turn the oven down to 300 after the first 45 minutes, if the edges of fruitcake or the pecans on top start to look brown.
Enjoy!
AUDIO TALKS AVAILABLE THROUGH PESI
I am a national speaker through the continuing education company PESI. I try to provide immediately and clinically useful information on nutrition and mental health. These seminars can be helpful to both mental health professionals as well as clients. Over the last 4 years, I have been able to use the feedback to refine the lecture so that I consistently receive positive responses and ratings higher than a 4 out of 5 scale.
Here are the links to the audio-recorded seminars:
Nutrition and Anxiety: Practical Techniques to Decrease Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Nutritional & Complementary Treatment for Mental Health Disorders
I will be doing a live webcast on May 13, 2010. Seriously consider joining us. Our last webcast was lively, interesting and informative.
Nutrition and Anxiety: Practical Techniques to Decrease Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Nutritional & Complementary Treatment for Mental Health Disorders
I will be doing a live webcast on May 13, 2010. Seriously consider joining us. Our last webcast was lively, interesting and informative.
RESEARCH: WHOLE DIET CUTS RISK OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
I am particularly excited because in January 2010 the first large study came out that verifies what I have been seeing clinically. In American Journal of Psychiatry, investigators at the University of Melbourne in Australia, led by Dr. Felica Jacka, Ph.D., published significant research findings on the role of whole foods on depression and anxiety. This study with 1,046 women ages 20 to 93 years showed that women who regularly consumed a so-called traditional diet were more than 30% less likely to have major depression, dysthymia, and anxiety disorders compared with their counterparts who consumed a Western diet. In addition, the Western diet was associated with a 50% increased likelihood of depression.
What is the traditional or whole diet that helps prevent mental illness, according to the study? It is a diet characterized by eating regularly vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and high-quality meat and fish. The Western diet, on the other hand, is high in refined or processed foods and saturated fats. All of which may increase the risk of depression, the new research suggested. Dr. Jacka defines high-quality meat as red meat such as beef and lamb from pasture-raised animals as opposed to feedlot grown animals eating only a corn-based diet commonly found in the United States. The naturally raised animals produce red meats higher in omega-3 fatty acids that support general brain development and, more specifically, learning and memory.
Dr. Gomez-Pinilla, PhD, at University of California Los Angeles’ Neurotrophic Research Laboratory, agrees with Dr. Jacka on the profound impact of the study: “The psychiatric community has been somewhat reticent about advocating diet as a preventive and/or treatment strategy for mental illness. However, this research, as well as other recent studies may help convince clinicians about the ‘profound impact’ diet can have on mood and psychiatric disorders in general and perhaps shift clinical practice.”
In my clinical practice at Dynamic Paths, when a person successfully changes his or her diet to consume appropriate amounts of high quality protein, fruits, vegetables, and grains, as well as becomes aware of the processed foods he or she has been eating, emotional and physical lives change. The need for antidepressant medication to help manage emotions decreases and some people can even discontinue the antidepressant medications. This makes sense. Antidepressant medication works to alleviate the inability to make neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. Good food and appropriate nutrients also can help make serotonin and aid in healing the brain. As the client continues to see a therapist, “brain re-wiring” for the emotional causes of depression can effectively take place. Mental health professionals and clients report to me that as diets improve, clients can begin to work on harder therapy concerns. If a person has a history of anemia, weight gain, quick loss weight loss programs, the person may have nutrient deficiencies that nutrition alone will not correct. At Dynamic Paths, Abby and I evaluate individuals’ diets to assure the balance for mental and physical health. We can order blood panels to check to see if individuals have enough iron, B vitamins, and other minerals to make dopamine and serotonin.
What is the traditional or whole diet that helps prevent mental illness, according to the study? It is a diet characterized by eating regularly vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and high-quality meat and fish. The Western diet, on the other hand, is high in refined or processed foods and saturated fats. All of which may increase the risk of depression, the new research suggested. Dr. Jacka defines high-quality meat as red meat such as beef and lamb from pasture-raised animals as opposed to feedlot grown animals eating only a corn-based diet commonly found in the United States. The naturally raised animals produce red meats higher in omega-3 fatty acids that support general brain development and, more specifically, learning and memory.
Dr. Gomez-Pinilla, PhD, at University of California Los Angeles’ Neurotrophic Research Laboratory, agrees with Dr. Jacka on the profound impact of the study: “The psychiatric community has been somewhat reticent about advocating diet as a preventive and/or treatment strategy for mental illness. However, this research, as well as other recent studies may help convince clinicians about the ‘profound impact’ diet can have on mood and psychiatric disorders in general and perhaps shift clinical practice.”
In my clinical practice at Dynamic Paths, when a person successfully changes his or her diet to consume appropriate amounts of high quality protein, fruits, vegetables, and grains, as well as becomes aware of the processed foods he or she has been eating, emotional and physical lives change. The need for antidepressant medication to help manage emotions decreases and some people can even discontinue the antidepressant medications. This makes sense. Antidepressant medication works to alleviate the inability to make neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. Good food and appropriate nutrients also can help make serotonin and aid in healing the brain. As the client continues to see a therapist, “brain re-wiring” for the emotional causes of depression can effectively take place. Mental health professionals and clients report to me that as diets improve, clients can begin to work on harder therapy concerns. If a person has a history of anemia, weight gain, quick loss weight loss programs, the person may have nutrient deficiencies that nutrition alone will not correct. At Dynamic Paths, Abby and I evaluate individuals’ diets to assure the balance for mental and physical health. We can order blood panels to check to see if individuals have enough iron, B vitamins, and other minerals to make dopamine and serotonin.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Neurotransmitters Improvement through Food and Behavior
Dr. Allott will be speaking at the Grand Rounds for Naturopathic Doctors at Bastyr University for the Spring 2010 lecture series on Tuesday evening, April 6 at University House at 5:30-6:45 PM. The title of her talk is “Neurotransmitters Improvement through Food and Behavior”.
The talk will focus on how we used different neurotransmitters in our daily lives and through over use, under use or not meeting the brain’s nutritional needs we can become deficient causing anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Although this lecture is directed to naturopathic doctors, all are welcome to come.
University House is located on 4400 Stone Way West, Seattle, Washington 98103. You won’t want to miss this lecture.
The talk will focus on how we used different neurotransmitters in our daily lives and through over use, under use or not meeting the brain’s nutritional needs we can become deficient causing anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Although this lecture is directed to naturopathic doctors, all are welcome to come.
University House is located on 4400 Stone Way West, Seattle, Washington 98103. You won’t want to miss this lecture.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Introducing: ABBY PATTISON, MA, CN, MHC
Dynamic Paths, Inc. is happy to announce that Abby Pattison, MA, CN, MHC has joined Dr. Allott in providing non-pharmaceutical interventions for depression, anxiety, addictions, sugar cravings and other mental health concerns. Over the last six months, Dr. Allott and Ms. Pattison have shared training and clinic experiences, redefined operation procedures for--not just joining--but integrating practices in order to better serve your wellness needs.
Abby Pattison brings unique qualities and provides multiple benefits to clients of Dynamic Paths, Inc. First, both of her master degrees in nutrition and psychology complement and enhance Dr. Allott's understanding that people's relationship to food is primarily emotional. Secondly, Abby Pattison is interested in working with parents and children over the age of seven years old. Thirdly, she can provide services at a price point that is more affordable for people struggling in our present economy.
When you come to see Ms. Pattison, you will follow the basic pattern for appointment making as outlined in the Services on the Dynamic Paths website. You will see Ms. Pattison for two to three appointments working on dietary tools that will improve your symtoms quickly. Once she has identified the physiological nature of the depression, anxiety, addition, sugar craving or other mental health concerns, you will be referred to Dr. Allott for laboratory analysis. Dr. Allott and Ms. Pattison will work collaboratively to create a treatment plan.
As your primary support, Ms. Pattison will explain how your symptoms maybe your body's way of expressing its need for nutritional changes. You and she together will discover foods that will work for you. The steps to wellness that the two of you create will be practical and well as sustainable.
Call today 206-579-2797 to get started on the pathway to feeling better.
Abby Pattison brings unique qualities and provides multiple benefits to clients of Dynamic Paths, Inc. First, both of her master degrees in nutrition and psychology complement and enhance Dr. Allott's understanding that people's relationship to food is primarily emotional. Secondly, Abby Pattison is interested in working with parents and children over the age of seven years old. Thirdly, she can provide services at a price point that is more affordable for people struggling in our present economy.
When you come to see Ms. Pattison, you will follow the basic pattern for appointment making as outlined in the Services on the Dynamic Paths website. You will see Ms. Pattison for two to three appointments working on dietary tools that will improve your symtoms quickly. Once she has identified the physiological nature of the depression, anxiety, addition, sugar craving or other mental health concerns, you will be referred to Dr. Allott for laboratory analysis. Dr. Allott and Ms. Pattison will work collaboratively to create a treatment plan.
As your primary support, Ms. Pattison will explain how your symptoms maybe your body's way of expressing its need for nutritional changes. You and she together will discover foods that will work for you. The steps to wellness that the two of you create will be practical and well as sustainable.
Call today 206-579-2797 to get started on the pathway to feeling better.
For Your Information
WELLNESS SUPPORT GROUP
For Anyone with an Ongoing Physical Health Challenge
Suzanne A. Fox, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Meets every other Tuesday, 1 pm to 2:30 pm
Location: Edmonds, near Stevens Hospital and 5 Corners
For specific session dates and a brief pre-registration phone interview, call Suzanne Fox at 425-775-4262. She may also be contacted at safox44@gmail.com.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
CALORIES IN, CALORIES OUT IS A MYTH
Americans are struggling with weight gain, diabetes, depression and anxiety. Dr. Allot returns to Realize Your Radiance Workshop 2010 on Saturday, April 3, to debunk some of the common myths about these conditions. She will explain facts about weight gain as well as what foods to eat and not to eat, so that you enjoy optimal health and vitality. Check out the interesting details of the event plus the possible scholarships at the following link. www.realizeyourradiance.com/details.htm
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