Research Supporting Orthomolecular Approaches to Schizophrenia

Research and clinical data supporting the therapeutic use of nutrients for schizophrenia includes:

Hoffer’s original double blinds introducing nutritional psychiatry
Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, introduced double blinds to psychiatric research with his early niacin  studies in the sixties. But, as a physician pledged to do no harm, he eventually decided not to deprive controls (patients) of treatments which he had  observed to work, so as not to place them at risk of permanent deterioration, or death.

Hoffer’s clinical results with 10,000 schizophrenic patients

Over the next half century, Hoffer practiced orthomolecular psychiatry, eventually treating 10,000 schizophrenic patients, most of whom recovered to a degree not expected with conventional treatments.


Walsh/Pfeiffer biotype outcome studies and biochemical assessments
Virtually all the 20,000 schizophrenics treated under the auspices of Dr. Carl C. Pfeiffer, MD, PhD, in New Jersey, and the additional 20,000 under Dr. William J. Walsh, PhD, in Illinois, were given a battery of biochemical tests when first seen, and then additional testing to track progress.  Walsh reports at least 90 separate tests for most patients, measuring nutrient levels, biotype, allergic reactivity, and other pertinent biochemical parameters.
As stated in my March 3rd post on outcome (below), approximately 85% of their 40,000 patients achieved great improvement or recovery within several years. Clinical improvement corresponded with the normalizing of key biochemical parameters, as measured by these tests.
Subset with ABA experimental design pattern
Among such patients were a significant number who at some point decided they were well,  stopped taking nutrients, and deteriorated; later resumed the nutrient protocol, and got better again; providing an ABA (on-off-on) experimental design in which patients incidentally served as their own controls.

Other studies and clinical results

Other double blinds, controlled studies, and clinical data from diverse researchers and practitioners, worldwide. For sources, see my book, Natural Healing for Schizophrenia.

Dr Abram Hoffer: His Work & Legacy

For a more evocative take on outcome, go to the site of the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine
And click on Dr. Hoffer's picture, in the column on the left.
Then click on the Memorial Guestbook.

Outcome with Orthomolecular Treatment of Schizophrenia

Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, Father of Orthomolecular Psychiatry

"Patients get well to a degree not seen by [mainstream] therapists, [many of whom] believe that orthomolecular therapists are prone to exaggeration. Those [who actually see] the results are astonished." - Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD

Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, defined recovery as: no signs and symptoms; able to resume work or schooling at the same skill level as before becoming ill (and, in most cases, paying income tax); social participation; and reasonable interactions with family members.
In his practice in Western Canada, which ultimately included about 10,000 schizophrenic patients, Dr. Hoffer found:
    Acute patients, ill two years or less, 90% recover or are much improved within two years, with good results for most of the remaining 10%.
   In patients ill twenty to thirty years, with a history of long-term medication and repeated hospitals stays, the rate is approximately 50%, with some improvement in others.
   On average, overall, recovery or great improvement can be expected in 75-85% of patients, within approximately one third the length of time they had been ill.

Dr. Carl C Pfeiffer, MD, PhD

Dr. Carl C Pfeiffer, MD, PhD, practicing in New Jersey up through 1988, supervised treatment of over 20,000 schizophrenic patients. Biotype-related imbalances were diagnosed in 95%. Pfeiffer found that corresponding nutrient-based treatment eventually produced a great improvement/recovery rate of 90% (for a total over all patients, of 85%).

Dr. William J Walsh, PhD
Since then, Dr. William J Walsh, PhD, working in Illinois, further substantiated this outcome, with another 20,000 patients.

Other Orthomolecular Practitioners
Such outcomes have been repeated in the individual practices of hundreds of orthomolecular psychiatrists, worldwide.


For more information, see my book at: naturalhealingforschizophrenia.com