Nutritional Approach to Bipolar Disorder

Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

64:3, March 2003

Summary of Journal Article

The following information has been derived from the published research conducted by psychiatrist Dr. Miles Simmons:

In a letter to the journal editor(s) Dr Simmons commended Dr.’s Kaplan and Popper for their work in examining a novel nutritional approach to treating bipolar disorder. The intervention, EMPowerplus, developed by David L. Hardy and Anthony F. Stephan, is a nutritional supplement comprised of essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Dr. Simmons admits that the treatment, though initially startling, "appears to offer substantial benefit."

In reporting his own experience Simmons recalls "Impressed by a striking response in a patient who learned of this supplement on the Internet, I began to discuss this option with other patients in my private clinical practice. After discussing alternative available treatments, the nature of this new approach, and the lack of controlled data regarding its use, I gave some treatment-resistant patients the option to try EMP under careful observation."

Simmons reported that he has now worked with 19 adults meeting the DSM-IV-TR criteria for bipolar I (N=14) or bipolar II (N=5) disorder. "By clinical global estimate, 12 of the 19 patients showed marked clinical improvement, 3 showed moderate improvement, and 1 showed mild improvement. Thirteen patients (10 marked responders, 3 moderate responders) were able to completely discontinue psychiatric medications over a mean of 5.2 weeks (range, 3-10 weeks) and remain stable on EMP alone. Of the 12 showing marked improvement, 10 have remained on EMP (current follow-up mean length = 13 months; range 5-21). One of the 3 moderate responders has also continued on EMP, so that 11 of 19 patients have chosen to remain on EMP rather than psychiatric medication."

Of the remaining 8 patients, four discontinued the supplement citing gastrointestinal concerns. Three experienced recurring symptoms and chose to resume psychiatric medication.

Dr. Simmons concluded that "It [was] clear that the effectiveness and safety of EMP remain to be established in controlled trials, but this approach does appear to represent an exciting potential direction for new research in bipolar disorder."  

Dr. Simmons reports no financial or other relationships relevant to the subject matter of this letter.  

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