Page 64 - Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments in Psychiatry

64 | Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments in Psychiatry

these are positive, an endoscopic biopsy of the small intestine is
done to confirm the diagnosis (U Chicago Tests).
However, recent research has indicated that positive blood
tests alone (known as “potential CD”) may indicate the need for a
GF diet because these patients show many of the markers of CD
patients and may simply be in a pre-villous-atrophy stage
(Bernini 2011).

Poisons and Toxins
A poison is a substance that can cause disturbance to an
organism through chemical reaction or other activity on a
molecular scale. A toxin is a poisonous substance produced
within living cells or organisms. The adjective “toxic” refers to
poisons and toxins. Thus, mercury is a poison and mycotoxins—
metabolites produced by molds—are toxins. Both are toxic.
Poisons and toxins can create virtually any neuropsychiatric
symptom from depression and suicidality to focus problems (as
in ADHD) to paranoia and psychosis. It is incumbent upon the
practitioner to consider this factor when a patient presents with
psychiatric symptoms. An in-depth intake assessment can often
help narrow the possibilities. The patient may even suspect a
toxic influence. Of particular importance is occupation (e.g.,
exposure to industrial chemicals, mercury in a laboratory, or
pesticides), hobbies (e.g., working with lead toy soldiers or
chemicals in a workshop), and location of his/her habitat and
workplace (e.g., mold in flooded regions or air pollution in urban
areas). A particularly revealing question is, “Does anyone in your
(neighborhood, factory, home, etc.) have similar symptoms?”
Certain classic neurotoxins, such as lead, mercury, and
pesticides, are well known. Most medical students are told how
the phrase “mad as a hatter” comes from the fact that mercury
used by hat makers of old commonly resulted in a deteriorating
psychosis. However, the list of substances that cause psychiatric
symptoms is actually quite long—with new ones being