NUTRITIONAL PSYCHIATRY: A PILOT SURVEY ON DIETARY PRACTICES AMONG MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Area of Science:

• Nutritional psychiatry and its role in mental healthcare.
• Integration of dietary strategies into clinical practice.

Background:

• Nutritional psychiatry is recognized as a complementary mental health approach.
• Evidence supports diet and nutraceuticals in psychiatric care, but clinical integration is understudied.
• This study examines Italian mental health professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and use of nutritional strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current knowledge, attitudes, and practical application of nutritional psychiatry among Italian psychiatrists and psychologists.
• To identify barriers and facilitators for integrating dietary interventions into mental healthcare.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 110 mental health professionals.
• The survey assessed knowledge of nutritional psychiatry and the application of dietary interventions.

Main Results:

• Most professionals discussed nutrition and used dietary strategies, albeit inconsistently.
• Psychiatrists showed higher engagement in nutritional counseling and managing somatic comorbidities.
• The Mediterranean diet was the most recommended dietary model; female psychiatrists reported higher self-rated knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Italian mental health professionals exhibit growing interest in nutritional psychiatry.
• Routine adoption is hindered by insufficient training and institutional support.
• Clear guidelines, accessible education, and interdisciplinary collaboration are crucial for integration.