Vitamin Deficiencies & Mental Disorders

Published on Mar 11, 2013
Proper nutrition is a critical aspect of normal brain development and function, and without it a broad range of disorders of the central nervous system can occur. Disorders like depression and schizophrenia are linked to chemical imbalances that are observed when vitamin deficiencies are present. Therefore, part of mental disorder prevention involves an adequate supply of certain vitamins. Professional medical advice should be sought before trying to prevent, treat or cure any mental disorder.

Those who suffer from mental illness such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc. may not think a physical problem could be part of the cause. Fact is, people who have vitamin deficiencies often experience mental health problems and/or are diagnosed with a mental illness. Learn about vitamin deficiencies that cause symptoms of mental illness and what you can do to help yourself or a loved one heal.

Psychosis in Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Richard J. Hart Jr., MD; Paul R. McCurdy, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1971;128(4):596-597. doi:10.1001/archinte.1971.00310220104015.

Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency may present with a psychosis which is curable if treated promptly.^1-8Although this fact is not new and is described in various textbooks,^9,10 it seems that it is often forgotten, which results in prolonged suffering from irreversible brain damage.¹ Accordingly, the following case report is presented to reemphasize the value of recognizing and promptly treating “megaloblastic madness.”

Patient Summary  A 53-year-old Negro woman was admitted to the District of Columbia General Hospital for the first time on Sept 12, 1968, because of psychosis and anemia. She had become increasingly anorectic for two months before admission and lost 13.6 kg (30 lb). During the last month she had become unmanageable at home by refusing all food, defecating and urinating in bed, and failing to recognize her husband. She was fearful that various unknown persons would harm her and had to be led by the

Symptoms of Vitamin B 12 Deficiency

Published on Aug 5, 2012
http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/glut…
Vitamin B-12 deficiency is linked to several health issues. Anemia, depression, nerve damage, memory issues, and much more. The two most common symptoms linked to B-12 deficiency are depression and fatigue.
Serum vitamin B-12 levels is not a good indicator for vitamin B12 deficiency. Functional medicine doctors typically evaluate vitamin B-12 using more advanced lab testing.

[Psychiatric manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency: a case report].

Encephale. 2003 Nov-Dec;29(6):560-5.

[Article in French]

Durand C, Mary S, Brazo P, Dollfus S.

Source

Centre Esquirol, Service du Professeur S. Dollfus, CHU de Caen, avenue Côte-de-Nacre, 14033 Caen.

Abstract

Psychiatric manifestations are frequently associated with pernicious anemia including depression, mania, psychosis, dementia. We report a case of a patient with vitamin B12 deficiency, who has presented severe depression with delusion and Capgras’ syndrome, delusion with lability of mood and hypomania successively, during a period of two Months. Case report – Mme V., a 64-Year-old woman, was admitted to the hospital because of confusion. She had no history of psychiatric problems. She had history of diabetes, hypertension and femoral prosthesis. The red blood count revealed a normocytosis with anemia (hemoglobin=11,4 g/dl). At admission she was uncooperative, disoriented in time and presented memory and attention impairment and sleep disorders. She seemed sad and older than her real age. Facial expression and spontaneous movements were reduced, her speech and movements were very slow. She had depressed mood, guilt complex, incurability and devaluation impressions. She had a Capgras’ syndrome and delusion of persecution.