Nutrition in Mental Health: Insight from a Survey Among Psychiatrists and Psychologists.

Abstract

Introduction: There is growing evidence supporting dietary interventions in major depressive disorders and other mental disorders. The WPA Action Plan 2023-2026 prioritises several actions including the improvement and the preservation of mental health through the adoption of healthy lifestyle choices illustrated in the Healthy Lifestyles Hub and research. Greater emphasis on physical activity, nutrition and sleep hygiene between patients and psychiatric staff is an objective of WPA Action Plan 2023-2026.

Methods: The survey was conducted from May to June 2024 using Google Forms. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of mental health professionals and consisted of statements investigating specific knowledge in nutritional Psychiatry and adoption of strategies to improve nutritional interventions in mental health. With this study, we aimed to investigate insight and attitudes on nutrition in mental health among a sample of psychiatrists and psychologists resident in Italy.

Results: 110 participants (61 psychologists, 46 adult psychiatrists and 3 child psychiatrists) agreed to participate in our survey. 89.2% (n=91) of them worked in southern Italy. The majority of participants were female (77.98%) and reported working in a Mental Health Centre (n=41, 37,27%), followed by psychiatric residential facilities (n=22, 20%), private practice (n=19, 17.27%), hospital (n=14, 12.73%), university research centre (n=4. 3.64%), other non specified institute (n=10; 9.09%). When asked the importance of a nutritional approach in the context of mental disorders no difference was found between the professional groups (p-value 0.653). Female gender is most represented, although not significantly (p-value 0.161). The need for further research in the field of nutritional psychiatry is widely considered by all mental health professionals, but without professional (p-value=0.416) and gender differences (p-value=0.426). Psychologists statistically significantly reported the need for specific training in nutritional psychiatry (p-value 0.004). We found a significant coefficient between number of years of working experience and nutritional training needs among all health professionals (tau -0.169; p-value = 0.022).

Conclusions: Specific nutrition training courses both for adult and child psychiatrists and psychologists are needed in order to increase awareness on nutrition as a well-being contributing factor in the biopsychosocial model.