Remission of OCD and ulcerative colitis with a ketogenic diet: Case Report
BackgroundThere is little research describing the clinical use of a ketogenic diet in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or inflammatory bowel disease. We describe the first clinical application of a ketogenic diet in adult OCD with ulcerative colitis (UC) resulting in complete remission of OCD, cl...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1541414/full |
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| author | Lori Calabrese Lori Calabrese |
| author_facet | Lori Calabrese Lori Calabrese |
| author_sort | Lori Calabrese |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThere is little research describing the clinical use of a ketogenic diet in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or inflammatory bowel disease. We describe the first clinical application of a ketogenic diet in adult OCD with ulcerative colitis (UC) resulting in complete remission of OCD, clinical remission of UC, and improved metabolic health.MethodsA 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis was treated for 12 weeks with a personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) in a specialized metabolic psychiatry clinic. Adherence was assessed by capillary beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and photojournaling of food intake. Remission of OCD was assessed by the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Florida Obsessive Compulsive Inventory scale (FOCI), and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement/Severity scale (CGI-S/I). Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Yale Food Addictions Scale 2.0 (YFAS 2.0) assessed depression and food addiction. Remission of UC was assessed by the Partial Mayo Score (PMS) and the Ulcerative Colitis Patient-Reported Outcome (UC-PRO). Metabolic health was assessed by laboratories and bioimpedance. Quality of life was assessed using validated scales for flourishing, resilience, self-compassion, and subjective narrative.ResultsClinical remission of UC occurred within 3 weeks (PMS 0, UC-PRO 0). Progressive improvement in OCD was inversely related to oscillating BHB, with FOCI 0 at 9 weeks, and complete remission at 12 weeks (Y-BOCS 0, CGI-S 1). Body weight decreased 12.2%, with significant decreases in the percentage of body fat and visceral fat. Flourishing, resilience, and self-compassion improved 2- to 20-fold.ConclusionComplete remission of OCD, clinical remission of UC, and marked improvement in metabolic health occurred within 12 weeks using a well-formulated personalized ketogenic diet (KMT ratio 1:5:1) with a meaningful positive impact on quality of life and significant improvements in flourishing, resilience, and self-compassion. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c4553b7e6e0c429db18dd253f567f57b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-c4553b7e6e0c429db18dd253f567f57b2025-08-20T03:07:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-04-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15414141541414Remission of OCD and ulcerative colitis with a ketogenic diet: Case ReportLori Calabrese0Lori Calabrese1Touchpoints180™, South Windsor, CT, United StatesInnovative Psychiatry, LLC, South Windsor, CT, United StatesBackgroundThere is little research describing the clinical use of a ketogenic diet in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or inflammatory bowel disease. We describe the first clinical application of a ketogenic diet in adult OCD with ulcerative colitis (UC) resulting in complete remission of OCD, clinical remission of UC, and improved metabolic health.MethodsA 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis was treated for 12 weeks with a personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) in a specialized metabolic psychiatry clinic. Adherence was assessed by capillary beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and photojournaling of food intake. Remission of OCD was assessed by the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Florida Obsessive Compulsive Inventory scale (FOCI), and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement/Severity scale (CGI-S/I). Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Yale Food Addictions Scale 2.0 (YFAS 2.0) assessed depression and food addiction. Remission of UC was assessed by the Partial Mayo Score (PMS) and the Ulcerative Colitis Patient-Reported Outcome (UC-PRO). Metabolic health was assessed by laboratories and bioimpedance. Quality of life was assessed using validated scales for flourishing, resilience, self-compassion, and subjective narrative.ResultsClinical remission of UC occurred within 3 weeks (PMS 0, UC-PRO 0). Progressive improvement in OCD was inversely related to oscillating BHB, with FOCI 0 at 9 weeks, and complete remission at 12 weeks (Y-BOCS 0, CGI-S 1). Body weight decreased 12.2%, with significant decreases in the percentage of body fat and visceral fat. Flourishing, resilience, and self-compassion improved 2- to 20-fold.ConclusionComplete remission of OCD, clinical remission of UC, and marked improvement in metabolic health occurred within 12 weeks using a well-formulated personalized ketogenic diet (KMT ratio 1:5:1) with a meaningful positive impact on quality of life and significant improvements in flourishing, resilience, and self-compassion.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1541414/fullketogenic diet (KD)obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)anxietyulcerative colitis (UC)inflammatory bowel diseaseinflammation |
| spellingShingle | Lori Calabrese Lori Calabrese Remission of OCD and ulcerative colitis with a ketogenic diet: Case Report Frontiers in Psychiatry ketogenic diet (KD) obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) anxiety ulcerative colitis (UC) inflammatory bowel disease inflammation |
| title | Remission of OCD and ulcerative colitis with a ketogenic diet: Case Report |
| title_full | Remission of OCD and ulcerative colitis with a ketogenic diet: Case Report |
| title_fullStr | Remission of OCD and ulcerative colitis with a ketogenic diet: Case Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Remission of OCD and ulcerative colitis with a ketogenic diet: Case Report |
| title_short | Remission of OCD and ulcerative colitis with a ketogenic diet: Case Report |
| title_sort | remission of ocd and ulcerative colitis with a ketogenic diet case report |
| topic | ketogenic diet (KD) obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) anxiety ulcerative colitis (UC) inflammatory bowel disease inflammation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1541414/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT loricalabrese remissionofocdandulcerativecolitiswithaketogenicdietcasereport AT loricalabrese remissionofocdandulcerativecolitiswithaketogenicdietcasereport |