Can you safely taper off psychiatric medications? And what are the potential harms of long-term psychiatric care?

Laura Delano spent years as a professional patient, navigating psychiatric diagnoses, multiple medications, and a life defined by treatment.

In this interview, Laura discusses her 13-year experience as a psychiatric patient, the impact of long-term medication use, and how she took control of her health to successfully taper off multiple psychiatric drugs.

Now, as the founder of Inner Compass Initiative and author of Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance (available March 18, 2025), she’s dedicated to helping others navigate informed choices about psychiatric medications, diagnoses, and withdrawal.

💡 In this episode, we cover:

✅ Laura’s personal story of polypharmacy and its effects

✅ The impact of long-term psychiatric medication

✅ The challenges of tapering and withdrawal

✅ How Laura has rebuilt her life beyond medications

✅ How Laura built a nonprofit to support others on the same path

✅ The role of diet, lifestyle, and community in mental health recovery

✅ Why informed consent is crucial for psychiatric treatment decisions

✅ The mission of Inner Compass Initiative

Laura’s new book Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance is available March 18, 2025.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This conversation includes discussion of suicidality and a suicide attempt. Please take care when watching.

#MentalHealth #Psychiatry #Deprescribing #PsychiatricMedication #Tapering #MetabolicPsychiatry

Expert Featured:

Laura Delano

Resources Mentioned:

Inner Compass Initiative

• https://www.theinnercompass.org/

Laura’a New Book: Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance

• https://www.amazon.com/Unshrunk-Story-Psychiatric-Treatment-Resistance/dp/1984880489

The Challenges of Going off Psychiatric Drugs

• https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/the-challenge-of-going-off-psychiatric-drugs

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Brain Energy and metabolism appear to play critical roles in the development and treatment of psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. And emerging research suggests that our gene expression influences how our brain uses energy, thus linking the fields of genetics and metabolism.

In this episode, Dr. Harry Pantazopoulos, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss fascinating new research into the relationship between gene expression and metabolism in serious mental illness.

Dr. Pantazopoulos’ study reveals a fascinating insight: while metabolic dysfunction is a common feature of serious mental illnesses, each condition exhibits its own distinct patterns of altered gene expression that impacts metabolic function. This suggests that the underlying metabolic dysfunction in mental illness arises through different mechanisms unique to each disorder.

In this interview you will learn:

The benefits of studying metabolic function and gene expression of the amygdala Which genes show altered expression in each mental illness, and how these changes affect metabolism How shifting the brain’s energy source from glucose to ketones could offer a promising way to address changes in metabolic gene expression How these study findings could translate to targeted clinical care

Although these findings are not yet ready to directly influence clinical psychiatric care models, they provide a critical foundation for future research aimed at tailoring metabolic therapies to the unique needs of each individual.

Expert Featured:

Harry Pantazopoulos, MD

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-pantazopoulos-04460413/

X: @HarryPantazopo1

Studies Mentioned:

Transcriptomic Analysis of the Amygdala in Subjects with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder Reveals Differentially Altered Metabolic Pathways

Differentially Altered Metabolic Pathways in the Amygdala of Subjects with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Is psychiatry stuck in the 19th century? For decades, psychiatry has relied on trial and error but is there a better way to provide precise, personalized, and preventative treatment?

Dr. Alexander Niculescu, professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona and CEO of MindX Sciences, is at the cutting edge of transforming psychiatry into an objective, data-driven field. With blood tests evaluating specific biomarkers, doctors may now be able to measure mental health, better understand symptoms, and predict which treatments will work best.

In this conversation, Dr. Niculescu explains how his research is helping reshape how we diagnose and treat mental illness allowing for a more personalized approach and potentially better outcomes. He shares research demonstrating how utilizing biomarkers can allow practitioners to better understand the current state of a patient’s mental health to assist in prevention and tailor both medications and lifestyle interventions for better outcomes.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why psychiatry is still practiced like 19th-century medicine and how to modernize it
• How blood tests can pinpoint the right treatment for a patient including lifestyle interventions, medication choice, and dosing
• How blood tests can identify the nuanced difference between mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder at a biological level
• Why these tests could be more reliable than genetic testing
• How early screening could help prevent serious mental illness
• The future of personalized lifestyle recommendations for mental health

At Metabolic Mind, we believe mental health care must evolve to incorporate metabolic interventions alongside innovative diagnostic tools. Our vision is a future where the metabolic health of every individual is assessed and addressed with evidence-based interventions, leading to improved mental health for all.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Alexander Niculescu

https://mindxsciences.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-niculescu-md-phd-b460a75/

Studies Mentioned:

Special Report: Precise, Personalized, and Preventive Psychiatry

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2024.12.12.27

CMEs Mentioned

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Is it possible for ketogenic therapy to significantly reduce schizoaffective symptoms in 2 weeks? What about putting symptoms into complete remission in 6 weeks?

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Nicole Laurent joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss her newly published case series showcasing the dramatic improvements in individuals with schizoaffective disorder using ketogenic metabolic therapy.

In this interview, Nicole shares:

• The life-changing stories from the patients and their families
• How she collaborated with healthcare teams to ensure better outcomes
• How she determines the right type of ketogenic diet for each patient
• The role of nutrient deficiencies and supplementation in treatment
• How medications were handled and her perspective on medication changes with ketogenic therapy
• The profound transformations in her patients’ lives, including returning to school and regaining independence

These stories offer hope and add to the growing evidence that ketogenic therapy can help individuals struggling with mental illness.

Want to hear more real-life experiences of people reclaiming their mental health through metabolic therapy? Hear from our community of experts by experience, including their challenges, setbacks, and successes on the path to recovery at metabolicmind.org/think-smart.

Expert Featured:

Nicole Laurent, LMHC

https://mentalhealthketo.com/

Founder and Medical Director of Mental Health KetoX: @KetoCounselor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nlaurent/

Instagram: mentalhealthketo/

Studies Mentioned

Ketogenic metabolic therapy for schizoaffective disorder: a retrospective case series of psychotic symptom remission and mood recovery

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1506304

CMEs Mentioned

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Dr. Iain Campbell, a researcher at the University of Edinburgh, discusses his groundbreaking pilot study on ketogenic therapy for bipolar disorder with Dr. Bret Scher. Having personally experienced the benefits of ketosis for his own bipolar type II depression, Dr. Campbell delves into the link between metabolic health and mental well-being.

Dr. Campbell shares how his recent study reveals a correlation between higher ketone levels and improvements in mood, energy, impulsivity, and anxiety in patients with bipolar disorder. He also highlights the intriguing brain imaging results that indicate reductions in brain glutamate, hinting at one of the potential mechanisms behind ketogenic therapy's effectiveness.

Key Topics Covered:

• The correlation between ketone levels and mood stabilization
• Dr. Campbell’s personal journey using ketogenic therapy for bipolar disorder
• How ketosis impacts brain glutamate levels
• The role of metabolic psychiatry in treating mental illness
• The future of metabolic treatments at the newly established UK Metabolic Psychiatry Hub

Dr. Campbell's pioneering work at the Metabolic Psychiatry Hub is advancing the field of metabolic psychiatry by integrating research and treatment, demonstrating how ketogenic therapy can be a powerful tool for addressing both metabolic and mental health in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

New Study:

A Pilot Study of a Ketogenic Diet in Bipolar Disorder: Clinical, Metabolic and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Findings

• https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2024.841

Experts Featured:

Dr. Iain Campbell

X: @IainCampbellPhD

www.metabolicpsychiatryhub.com

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:

Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Do psychiatric medications alter brain energy and metabolic health?

Dr. Stephen Cunnane, a professor and researcher at the University of Sherbrooke, has been at the forefront of studying glucose and ketone metabolism in the aging brain, pioneering advanced imaging techniques to measure how the brain utilizes these critical energy sources with neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

While glucose PET imaging has long been used to study brain energy metabolism, Dr. Cunnane’s team was the first to develop ketone PET imaging, allowing researchers to look at the relationship between glucose and ketone metabolism in the brain and understand how ketones support brain function when it struggles to use glucose for energy.

Now, Dr. Cunnane has turned his attention to metabolic psychiatry and is working on a new study looking at brain energy metabolism in individuals experiencing first-episode psychosis. This study will allow researchers insights into the metabolic state of the brain at the onset of major mental illness and how psychiatric medications influence brain energy use.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How the brain uses fuel as we age – Why glucose metabolism declines over time and how ketones may compensate in aging and neurodegenerative conditions.
• The first ketone PET imaging studies – How Dr. Cunnane’s team developed a method to directly measure ketone uptake in the brain and compare it to glucose metabolism
• Psychosis and brain energy metabolism – Examining glucose and ketone utilization in first-episode psychosis before and after antipsychotic treatment.
• Carbohydrate reduction in older adults – Findings from a study showing how moderate carb restriction improved metabolic and mental health in retirement home residents independent of weight loss.
• Parkinson’s disease and ketones – Investigating how exercise, exogenous ketones, and carbohydrate restriction may enhance brain energy supply and improve symptoms.

Dr. Cunnane has been a pioneer in the field of ketogenic therapy and brain energy. In addition to all the incredible work he is doing in the aging brain, we are excited to see his new research focusing on such critical components of metabolic psychiatry.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Stephen Cunnane

https://recherche-cerveau-sherbrooke.ca/en/laboratory-team/

Studies Mentioned

A reduced carbohydrate diet improves glycemic regulation in hyperglycemic older people in a retirement home: the SAGE study

https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2024-0277

Resources Mentioned

Brain Research Team Website

https://recherche-cerveau-sherbrooke.ca/en/

Revolutionizing Assisted Living: Hal Cranmer's Ketogenic & Carnivore Approach to Senior Wellness

https://youtu.be/s86CFw0qhVc?feature=shared

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources athttps://metabolicmind.org/

About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

How can we make sense of conflicting studies? One paper suggests a ketogenic diet reduces all-cause mortality, while another claims it raises blood pressure. Are large-scale survey tools like NHANES—the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey—really the best way to answer these complex questions?

In this insightful interview, Dr. Adrian Soto-Mota, an internal medicine clinician, educator, and data enthusiast, explains how to critically evaluate research findings. He highlights the strengths and limitations of different types of studies, using engaging analogies to help you better understand when and how to apply research conclusions.

In this video you’ll learn:

If you're passionate about understanding health research and making evidence-based decisions, this interview is a must-watch!

Expert Featured:

Dr. Adrian Soto-Mota

X: @AdrianSotoMota

Studies Mentioned

Ketogenic diets are associated with an elevated risk of hypertension: Insights from a cross-sectional analysis of the NHANES 2007–2018

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcrp.2024.200342

Comparing Very Low-Carbohydrate vs DASH Diets for Overweight or Obese Adults With Hypertension and Prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Trial

https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2968

The ketogenic diet has the potential to decrease all-cause mortality without a concomitant increase in cardiovascular-related mortality

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-73384-x

CMEs Mentioned

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

Follow our channel for more insights and education from Dr. Bret Scher, including interviews with leading experts in metabolic psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/.

About us

Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Pediatric and adolescent mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and ADHD, are reaching alarming levels and affecting millions worldwide. While the causes are still being explored, one potential contributing factor is the rising metabolic health epidemic, fueled by a harmful food environment.

With current treatment options often coming with challenging side effects and failing to provide lasting relief, many families are turning to innovative, evidence-based solutions to support their children’s well-being and long-term development.

In this interview, Dr. Lori Calabrese, a board-certified psychiatrist, shares her pioneering work in youth mental health care and discusses her experiences implementing ketogenic therapies in children and young adults.

In this interview, you’ll learn:

Everyone deserves access to better mental health care, especially the young minds that hold the future to our society.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Lori Calabrese

X: @loricalabresemd

LoriCalabreseMD.com

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us: Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

How Is a ketogenic diet different for women, and what impact does a ketogenic diet have on women’s hormones? The ketogenic diet sparks a lot of questions when it comes to women’s health—and for good reason. Social media and the internet are flooded with conflicting information. Fortunately, Dr. Madison Kackley, a research scientist at Ohio State University, brings evidence-based insights in this episode. As the leader of the SHE IS Laboratory, Dr. Kackley and her team are uncovering the unique ways ketogenic interventions can impact women’s health, considering crucial factors like hormonal fluctuations, menstrual cycles, and key life stages such as postpartum and perimenopause.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Join us as Dr. Kackley shares her passion for addressing the gaps in women-specific health studies and the promising future of metabolic-based interventions for women’s health.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Madison Kackley

X: @KackleyMLPhD

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

Follow our channel for more insights and education from Dr. Bret Scher, including interviews with leading experts in metabolic psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/.

About us:

Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Mental health care is at a critical crossroads. Millions of people are searching for effective treatments, yet conventional options often fall short, leaving many without significant or lasting relief. Compounding this issue is the lack of funding directed toward exploring novel, root-cause therapies. The urgency for change is clear.

Dr. Chris Palmer, a Harvard psychiatrist and the author of Brain Energy, has been instrumental in raising awareness about the metabolic nature of mental illness. His pioneering work highlights how conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia often stem from underlying metabolic dysfunctions, including glucose hypometabolism, neurotransmitter imbalances, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

In this interview, Dr. Palmer dives into the science behind mental illnesses and shares groundbreaking insights into how ketogenic therapy is changing lives.

In this interview, you’ll learn:

This conversation highlights the urgent need for change in psychiatry, how metabolic therapies are offering new hope for those living with mental illness, and the path towards more effective evidence based care and better patient outcomes.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Chris Palmer

X: @ChrisPalmerMD

www.ChrisPalmerMD.com

Purchase Brain Energy: https://brainenergy.com/#order-window

Studies Mentioned

Beyond comorbidities: metabolic dysfunction as a root cause of neuropsychiatric disorders

The Ketogenic Diet as a Transdiagnostic Treatment for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Mechanisms and Clinical Outcomes

CMEs Mentioned

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.