MDABC’s Food as Medicine Program
with Dr. Leslie Wicholas
Research shows that mood disorders and pain disorders have something in common: chronic inflammation.
Our understanding of mood and pain disorders has expanded dramatically over the past decade. We now know that dietary habits, inflammation and oxidative stress are common underlying factors in mood, pain and other brain-based disorders.
Dr. Leslie Wicholas and our Food as Medicine program have been featured in this article from Best Health magazine, which summarizes what researchers are learning about nutrition and mental health. Dr. Leslie Wicholas is a psychiatrist and naturopath trained in functional medicine and nutritional psychiatry.
This group medical visit will provide a personalized examination of various chronic inflammation causes. Each individual will have a medical workup to identify treatable root causes contributing to mood and brain-based disorders. There will be an assessment of common nutritional deficiencies that can contribute to mood and pain disorders.
Treatment will include evidence-based dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, the use of supplements and select medication. There will be a focus on improving gut health and nurturing a healthy microbiome, both of which are important in the treatment of mood and inflammatory disorders. You will be taught which foods cause harm to your body and how to use food as medicine. Participants should be prepared to make major changes to their diet.
Who should join the program?
|
This program is for individuals with the following diagnoses:
|
Co-occurring disorders that can benefit from this treatment include:
|
Individuals who may want to consider the group include:
1. Those with mild to moderate depression or fibromyalgia who prefer to make dietary and lifestyle changes rather than use prescription medication.
2. Those with depression, bipolar depression or fibromyalgia who are only partially improving with medication or are not responsive to medication.
Exclusion criteria for the group treatment include:
Active mania or hypomania, psychosis, active eating disorder, active alcohol or other substance use disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and severe cognitive impairment.
How to participate
To participate in the Food as Medicine group program, you will need a referral from your family doctor. With the referral, the Food as Medicine program is covered by MSP.
To refer a patient to the Food as Medicine group program, click here to download the referral form: Food as Medicine Referral form
Please fax the completed form to MDABC at 604-873-3095
Clients will receive a 50-minute psychiatric consultation with Dr. Leslie Wicholas prior to acceptance to ensure that the group is a good fit for the individual.
Space is limited, and not all referrals can be accepted. There will be a waiting list, and people will be assessed for commitment and availability before being accepted.
The Food as Medicine group program meets once a week for 2 hours. The total program length is 8 weeks.
All sessions are currently held via ZOOM.
References
Visit the links below to learn more about nutritional psychiatry and the connection between food, mood and brain health.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-you-eat-may-affect-mental-health/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626