Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Orthomolecular therapy: Its history and applicability to psychiatric disorders

  • Articles
  • Published:
Child Psychiatry and Human Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Orthomolecular therapy has had much support and much opposition, and yet there remain a number of professionals and parents who continue the quest for its effective application in the amelioration of psychiatric disorders. The popular press has again been the forum for heated debate between those who debunk its possibilities and those who attest to its operative use. Because the parents of mentally retarded and mentally ill children are particularly vulnerable to the raising or dashing of their hopes against claims being made either way, this paper provides an overview and history of orthomolecular therapy, its application to both mental illness and mental retardation, as well as toxicity considerations relative to megavitamin treatment, in the hope that such information will provide mental health professionals with concise an swers to the challenging questions currently being asked by their patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Olson RE, Broguist HP, Chichester CO, Darby WJ, Kolbye AC, & Stalvey RM:Nutrition reviews present knowledge in nutrition, (5th Edition). Washington, DC: The Nutrition Foundation, Inc, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Carpenter KJ:The History of Scurvy and Vitamin C. New York, Cambridge University Press, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hillman RE: Megavitamin responsive aminoacidopathies.Pediatric Clinics of North America, 23(3), 557–567, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Fernhoff P, Lubitz D, Danner D, Dembure P, Schwartz H, Hillman R, Bier D, & Elsas L: Thiamine response in maple syrup urine disease.Pediatric Research, 19, 1011–1016, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Scriver C, Clow C, & George H: So-called thiamine-responsive maple syrup urine disease: 15-year follow-up of the original patient.The Journal of Pediatrics, 107(5), 763–765, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hathcock J: Toxicity of vitamins for vitamin nutrition information service (VNIS)Vitamin Issues, 1, 1–6, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Food and Nutrition Board. National Research Council—National Academy of Sciences: Recommended dietary allowances: Scientific issues and process for the future.Journal of Nutrition, 116, 482–486, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Pauling L: Orthomolecular psychiatry.Science, 160, 265–271, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kunin RA: Orthomolecular Psychiatry. In: R.P. Huemer (Ed.):The roots of molecular medicine. New York: W.H. Freeman Company, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hoffer A, Osmond H, Callback J, & Kahan R: Treatment of schizophrenics with nicotine acid and nicotinamide.J Clin Exper Psychopath. 18, 131–158, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hoffer A & Osmond H: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) as a treatment for schizophrenia.Journal of Psychopharmacology, 1, 79–94, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hoffer A: Orthomolecular therapy.Psychiatric Opinion, 10, 6, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mosher LR: Nicotinic acid side affects and toxicity: A review:American Journal of Psychiatry, 126, 124–130, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  14. American Psychiatric Association. Task Force on Orthomolecular Therapy.Psychiatric News, July, 1973.

  15. Canadian Schizophrenic Foundation. Megavitamins in therapy.Reply to the American Psychiatric Association Task Force Report on Megavitamins and Orthomolecular Psychiatry. Regina, Saskatchewan, 1976.

  16. Jukes TH: Megavitamin Therapy.Journal of the American Medical Association, 233, 550–551, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  17. White P: Megavitamin this and megavitamin that.Journal of the American Medical Association, 233, 538–539, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Adler S: Behavior management: A nutritional approach to the behaviorally disordered and learning disabled child.Journal of Learning Disabilities, 11, 651–656, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Cott A: Orthomolecular approach to the treatment of learning disabilities.Schizophrenia, 3, 95–105, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Cott A: Megavitamins: The orthomolecular approach to behavioral disorders and learning disabilities.Academic Therapy, 7, 245–258, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Cott A: Treatment of learning disabilities.Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry, 3, 343–355, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Rimland B, Callaway E, & Dreyfus P: The effects of high doses of vitamin B6 on autistic children: A double-blind crossover study.American Journal of Psychiatry, 4(135), 472–475, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Rimland B: High dosage levels of certain vitamins in the treatment of children with severe mental disorders. In D. Hawkins and L. Pauling (Eds.),Orthomolecular psychiatry, New York: Freeman W.H., 1973

    Google Scholar 

  24. Rimland B: An orthomolecular study of psychotic children.Orthomolecular psychiatry, 3, 371–377, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Schmid F:Cytobiologishe revue, 1, 25–32, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Turkel H:New hope for the mentally retarded, New York: Vantage Press, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Turkel H: Medical amelioration of Down's syndrome incorporating the orthomolecular approach.The Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry, 4, 2. 102–115. 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Turkel H: A treatment for mongolism stymied by the FDA.Prevention. 61–79, 1979.

  29. Wunderlich R: Treatment of the hyperactive child.Academic Therapy, 8, 375–390, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Arnold L, Christopher J, Heustis R, & Smeltzer D: Megavitamins for minimal brain dysfunction: A placebo controlled study.Journal of the American Medical Association, 240, 2642–2643, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Bumbalo T, Morelevica H, & Bernas D: Treatment of Down's syndrome with the “U” series of drugs.Journal of the American Medical Association, 198, 125–131, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Kershner J & Gerkin R: A pilot study of a high-protein and high-vitamin, low carbohydrate, sugar-free diet with learning disabled children.Special education monograph, Toronto: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Morgan DG: An overview of research at Walden House. Paper presented at Atlanta Regional Conference of the National Society for Autistic Children: Atlanta. GA. 1976.

  34. Kershner J & Hawke W:Nutrition, 109, 819–826, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Harrell R, Capp R, Davis D, Peerless J, & Ravitz L: Can nutritional supplements help mentally retarded children? An exploratory study.Proc Nat'l Acad Sci USA, 78, 1, 574–578, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Williams RJ: Biochemical individuality: The basis for the genetotrophic concept. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Feingold BF: Hyperkinesis and learning disabilities linked to artificial food flavors and colors.American Journal of Nursing, 75, 5, 797–803, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Feingold BF: Hyperkinesis and learning disabilities linked to the ingestion of artificial food colors and flavors.Journal of Learning Disabilities, 9, 551–559, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Conners C, Goyette C, Southwick D, Lees J & Andrulonis P: Food additives and hyperkinesis: A controlled double-blind experiment.Pediatrics, 58, 154–166, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Snyder S, Baraban J & Worley P: Second messengers in brain function and psychiatry.Strecker Monograph Series, Number XXIII, 1986.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Nebraska College of Pharmacy, Omaha, USA

    James E. Wilson Pharm.D.

  2. University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd & Dewey Street, 68105, Omaha, Nebraska

    Frank J. Menolascino M.D., John Y. Donaldson M.D., Thomas F. Gallagher M.D. & Charles J. Golden Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Frank J. Menolascino M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John Y. Donaldson M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thomas F. Gallagher M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Charles J. Golden Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. James E. Wilson Pharm.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Menolascino, F.J., Donaldson, J.Y., Gallagher, T.F. et al. Orthomolecular therapy: Its history and applicability to psychiatric disorders. Child Psych Hum Dev 18, 133–150 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709727

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709727

Keywords

Search

Navigation