The Study
Ketogenic metabolic therapy for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a retrospective case report
This study is like saying, 'My friend ate a new snack and felt better — so the snack must fix sadness.' But we don’t know if the snack did it, or if they just got lucky, or if something else changed. One person’s story isn’t proof.
Analysis score
Maximum 30 for a case report.
Where the score came from
A woman with PTSD who didn't improve with therapy or medicine tried a strict low-carb, high-fat diet — and her depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms vanished.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 530 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1For someone who had suffered for years and tried everything else, this was a life-changing improvement — but it happened in just one person.
- 2Her PTSD score dropped from 32 to 2; depression score went from 10 to 0; anxiety score went from 6 to 0 over 25 weeks.
- 3She also lost 14.7 pounds and felt happier and more resilient.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Related Content
Claims (5)
A 45-year-old woman with severe PTSD from military sexual trauma experienced a reduction in PTSD symptoms from a PCL-5 score of 32 to 2 and complete resolution of depression and anxiety symptoms after following a ketogenic diet for 25 weeks.
In one person with treatment-resistant PTSD, starting a ketogenic diet coincided with measurable ketosis and a reduction in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress over 25 weeks.
A person with treatment-resistant PTSD lost 14.7 pounds, increased muscle mass, and experienced a change in body fat percentage from 20.9% to 23.3% over 26 weeks while following a ketogenic diet.
A person with severe PTSD who did not respond to standard treatments experienced improved self-perception, emotional resilience, and quality of life after following a ketogenic diet, including feeling more hopeful, having better relationships, and being able to think about traumatic memories without distress.
Mood changes caused by ketogenic diets end when the diet stops, and do not continue after the short-term phase.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.