vitamin/mineral supplementation

So there must be a reason that the only treatment option given by psychiatrists is medication. Any ways, I have managed to find some 'alternative' treatment options that others write about on the internet.

1. Vitamin/mineral supplementation:

Nalturalgal wrote out her vitamin and mineral supplementation program. On top of a Multi-Vitamin/Multi-Mineral supplement she also takes 5-HTP 50-100 mg, EPA/DHA (fish oil or omega 3 fatty acid), Vitamin B-6 100 mg, Vitamin B-12 lozenge 100 mcg, Vitamin C 500 - 2,000 mg, Vitamin E 400 ui, Magnesium 400-800 mg, L-Glutamine 500 mg, Taurine 500 mg, GABA 500 mg (as needed for anxiety up to three a day. We take one per night.), N-Acetyl Cysteine 900 mg, Melatonin 3 mg (or Sleep Essentials as needed)

True Hope is a non-profit charity whose main focus is selling EMPowerplus®. They claim to have combined a vitamin supplement ($74.98 for 228 capsules) specifically for depression, bipolar disorder, ADD, stress, and anxiety.

Anyways, I do think it's great that someone is working a combination of vitamin/minerals that pertain to specific disorders but what's with the charity part? Thanks for listing your regime out for free Nalturalgal!

Research is on-going about nutritional supplementation in mood disorders by Dr. Bonnie Kaplan in the Clinical Trial of a Nutritional Supplement in Adults With Bipolar Disorder.

Although orthomolecular medicine is generally reported as quackery in the medical community, Lakhan & Vieira (2008, in Nutrition Journal - thanks for open access!!!) wrote a review entitled, Nutritional therapies for mental disorders, where they found that

Notably, essential vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids are often deficient in the general population in America and other developed countries; and are exceptionally deficient in patients suffering from mental disorders. Studies have shown that daily supplements of vital nutrients often effectively reduce patients' symptoms. Supplements that contain amino acids also reduce symptoms, because they are converted to neurotransmitters that alleviate depression and other mental disorders. Based on emerging scientific evidence, this form of nutritional supplement treatment may be appropriate for controlling major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), addiction, and autism.

Furious Seasons blog post, Meds Or Vitamins As Cure For Bipolar Disorder? is probably as practical a post as can be, "I'm a bit dubious about claims that diet and nutrition can cure bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses, but I am just as dubious that Seroquel or Effexor can do the same."

I think there is enough anecdotal evidence that vitamin/mineral supplements work to try it, at least with B vitamins. And besides, it can't hurt (of course taking into account not overdoing the amount of fat soluble vitamins). At worst I'll just have some very expensive pee.