Ketogenic Diet: A New Frontier in Psychiatry?

Registration Options

Activity Dates: 04/28/2025 - 04/28/2028

Session Time and Location

Date: Monday, 04/28/2025

Time: 2:00 PM (view in the schedule)

Room: TBD

Target Audience

If you are a pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or other health care professional involved in the comprehensive medication management of individuals living with mental health and/or substance use disorders, we invite you to participate in this online course.

Session Summary

While emerging research suggests the ketogenic diet may improve mental health outcomes in conditions like bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, there's a significant gap in knowledge for psychiatric pharmacists regarding its safety, effectiveness, implementation, and potential interactions with medications. By attending this session, psychiatric pharmacists will be better equipped to discuss the ketogenic diet with patients, offer informed guidance, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals for a more holistic approach to mental health. Practical strategies for effectively implementing the ketogenic diet in psychiatric practice will be discussed, offering new insights into its application for mental health professionals.

Faculty Information

Deanna Kelly, PharmD, BCPP

View biographical information

Deanna Kelly, PharmD, BCPP
Professor of Psychiatry
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD

Deanna L. Kelly, Pharm.D., BCPP is the Dr. William and Carol Carpenter Professor of Psychiatry for Mental Illness Research at University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine. She also serves as an Affiliate Professor in the School of Pharmacy and is currently serving as the Acting Director of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Cener. Dr. Kelly received her Bachelor of Science and Doctorate in Pharmacy at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. She completed residency training in psychiatric pharmacy practice at the University of Maryland in 1997 and became board certified in psychiatric pharmacy practice in 1998. Dr. Kelly has led and been involved in numerous clinical trials in schizophrenia and severe mental illness and has been active in psychopharmacology research for the past 27 years. Dr. Kelly has coauthored and authored 19 books and book chapters, published over 240 peer-reviewed articles, presented over 250 scientific posters and has given over 180 invited lectures. She has coauthored four editions of the book entitled “Pharmacologic Treatment of Schizophrenia.” She also authors the Schizophrenia chapter for “Pharmacotherapy, Principles and Practice” and an author on the newly released book, “Get your Brain off Grain.” She is Past President for the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP), a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), awarded the prestigious Maltz Prize for Innovative and Promising Schizophrenia Research by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation for her work on gluten and the brain in 2017 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-9lOpPUdg0, and recently named one of the top 100 women in Maryland. She is an international expert in gluten sensitivity and dietary interventions related to mental health, clozapine use, and studying new treatments. In 2024 she was named the G. Van Greene Distinguished Lecturer at Mercer University. Additionally, her work and scientific expertise has been featured in the New York Times, National Geographic, NPR onlne, Women’s Day Magazine, Gluten-Free Living, MedPage Today, Vice Media, Clinical Psychiatry News, Psychiatric News and Medscape Medical News. She can be found on twitter at @ProfDeannaK. More information can be found on her faculty page: http://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/profiles/Kelly-Deanna/

Learning Objectives

Describe the rationale and pathophysiologic understanding of a ketogenic diet’s impact on the brain.
Evaluate the existing research on the effects of the ketogenic diet on mental health treatment.
Identify interactions and clinical considerations between the ketogenic diet and commonly prescribed psychotropic medications.
Explain effective implementation strategies for the ketogenic diet in mental health treatment.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Dates: 04/28/2025 - 04/28/2028
ACPE Contact Hours: 1
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-25-007-H01-P (Knowledge)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal and AANPCB advanced practice provider content. For specific questions related to your organization's acceptance of ACPE continuing education units, please contact your organization directly.

ACPE The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

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Off-Label Use: This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA (see faculty information). The opinions expressed in the educational activity do not necessarily represent the views of AAPP and any educational partners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

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It is the policy of AAPP to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in continuing education activities. Those involved in the development of this continuing education activity have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing education activity. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, and precautions) and drug delivery systems is subject to change, however, and the reader is advised to check the manufacturer’s package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.

Fair balance is achieved through ongoing and thorough review of all materials produced by faculty, and all educational and advertising materials produced by supporting organizations, prior to educational offerings. Approval of credit for this continuing education activity does not imply endorsement by AAPP for any product or manufacturer identified.