The Connection Between Physical and Mental Health
We ventured into functional and integrative psychiatry because we observed that many individuals weren't experiencing significant improvement with traditional approaches alone. As we shifted our focus to a holistic view of health, we noticed that patients not only saw improvements in their mental well-being but also experienced reduced physical complaints. Research highlights the strong link between physical and mental health. For instance, a 2024 study published in World Psychiatry followed over 7 million people from 2000-2021, studying nine broad categories of physical disease. This study documented that most physical diseases are associated with an elevated risk of mental disorders. This is just one of the many studies highlighting the connection between mental illness and various health issues, including cardiovascular disease, nutrient deficiencies, hematologic disorders, gastrointestinal issues, endocrine disorders, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disturbances.
“Focusing on and enhancing metabolic health is one important step we can take to support you on your journey to mental wellness. Our goal is to create a variety of future posts that dissect the relationship between physical and mental health and what you can do to take charge of your health. It’s time to take the reigns of your life back!”
The connection between metabolic health and mental well-being has garnered significant attention recently. A meta-analysis published in March 2024 in Psychological Medicine examined 26 studies on this topic and revealed noteworthy trends. The findings indicated a bidirectional relationship between metabolic dysfunction and mental health, meaning that changes in one can directly affect the other, creating a continuous feedback loop.
Understanding these interconnections is essential for effective treatment and holistic care. Metabolic syndrome is increasingly prevalent in the United States, leading to rising issues such as high blood pressure, glucose dysregulation, elevated triglycerides, and increased waist circumference. The more of these factors individuals face, the more likely their mood will be affected.
Moreover, having metabolic disturbances significantly raises the risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. A 2024 study in Translational Psychiatry found that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is 58% higher among those with psychiatric disorders compared to the general population, highlighting the reciprocal nature of this relationship.
Focusing on and enhancing metabolic health is one important step we can take to support you on your journey to mental wellness. Our goal is to create a variety of future posts that dissect the relationship between physical and mental health and what you can do to take charge of your health. It’s time to take the reigns of your life back!
References:
Momen, N. C., Østergaard, S. D., Heide-Jorgensen, U., Sørensen, H. T., McGrath, J. J., & Plana-Ripoll, O. (2024). Associations between physical diseases and subsequent mental disorders: a longitudinal study in a population-based cohort. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 23(3), 421–431. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21242Maksyutynska, K., Stogios, N., Prasad, F., Gill, J., Hamza, Z., De, R., Smith, E., Horta, A., Goldstein, B. I., Korczak, D., Graff-Guerrero, A., Hahn, M. K., & Agarwal, S. M. (2024). Neurocognitive correlates of metabolic dysregulation in individuals with mood disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological medicine, 54(7), 1245–1271. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291724000345Gao, X., Qin, Y., Jiao, S., Hao, J., Zhao, J., Wang, J., Wen, Y., & Wang, T. (2024). Genetic evidence for the causal relations between metabolic syndrome and psychiatric disorders: a Mendelian randomization study. Translational psychiatry, 14(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02759-5
