How Far We’ve Come: Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health in 2026

Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health: How Far We’ve Come

Over the past decade, ketogenic metabolic therapy has moved from the fringes of psychiatry into peer‑reviewed journals, clinical psychology conversations and real‑world online programs (Bellamy, 2026; Laurent et al., 2024). At IKRT, we’ve been at the centre of this shift, contributing to published research on depression, anxiety, food addiction and severe mental illness while supporting clients across the UK, Europe and beyond through structured online care (Bellamy, 2026).

From epilepsy treatment to mental health care

Ketogenic diets have been used in neurology since the 1920s, primarily for drug‑resistant

epilepsy, where they are now considered an evidence‑based treatment. Over time, researchers began to notice parallel improvements in mood, anxiety and cognitive function in people following therapeutic ketogenic protocols (Laurent et al., 2024).

Building on this, recent work has explored ketogenic metabolic therapy as a targeted

intervention for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia‑spectrum conditions and

binge‑eating disorder (Bellamy, 2025; Bellamy & Laurent, 2025; Laurent et al., 2025). This

research focuses not on “keto for weight loss,” but on carefully implemented metabolic therapy that alters brain energy metabolism, inflammation and neurotransmission (Laurent et

al., 2024).

What the newer studies are showing

Recent publications led or co‑authored by Dr Erin Bellamy have highlighted three important developments:

• Real‑world improvements in depression and anxiety. In a 12‑week audit of the IKRT Foundations Program, 19 adults with depression and anxiety saw their average PHQ‑9 scores fall from 13 (moderate) to 5 (mild), and GAD‑7 scores fall from 13 to 7, representing 62% and 46% mean reductions, respectively (Bellamy, 2026). Seventy‑one percent achieved clinically meaningful improvement in depression and 47% reached remission (PHQ‑9 < 5), while 79% achieved clinically meaningful improvement in anxiety and 47% reached remission (GAD‑7 ≤ 5; Bellamy, 2026).

• Full remission in complex, treatment‑resistant depression. A case study describes a 47‑year‑old woman with lifelong treatment‑resistant major depressive disorder achieving full remission of depressive symptoms, with PHQ‑9 scores dropping from 25 to 0 by 2 months and remaining at 0 at 4 months on a supervised ketogenic protocol (Laurent et al., 2025).

• Transdiagnostic recovery across multiple diagnoses. Another case report describes a woman with PTSD, ADHD, binge‑eating disorder, bipolar II disorder, depression, anxiety and premenstrual dysphoric disorder achieving complete remission across all measured psychiatric scales after a structured ketogenic metabolic therapy programme, with optimal symptom control when ketones were maintained between 3 and 5 mmol/L (Bellamy & Laurent, 2025).

This data is early and comes from small samples, but it suggests that for some people especially those who have “tried everything” targeting metabolism can be clinically meaningful (Bellamy, 2025; Bellamy, 2026; Laurent et al., 2025).

Why clinical psychologists are paying attention

A 2024 perspective in Frontiers in Psychology argued that clinical psychology has largely overlooked ketogenic therapy, despite growing evidence from psychiatry and neurology (Laurent et al., 2024). The authors outline how ketogenic metabolic therapy might sit within a biopsychosocial model of care, not as a stand‑alone cure, but as a metabolic foundation that can enhance psychotherapies and, in some cases, reduce the burden of medications (Laurent et al., 2024). For psychologists working in the UK, Europe, and across the world, this opens a new question: what would it mean to integrate metabolic thinking into psychological practice, referral pathways and multidisciplinary teams (Laurent et al., 2024)?

From journals to online programs

Research is only useful if people can access it in a safe, structured and affordable way. That’s why IKRT was created: to turn evidence from case studies, qualitative work and service evaluations into practical online programs that people can follow from home with professional guidance (Bellamy, 2026).

Our work now spans:

• A published audit of the IKRT Foundations Program, a 12‑week remote ketogenic therapy course for depression and anxiety (Bellamy, 2026).

• Case studies emerging from online and blended programmes, including people with treatment‑resistant depression, schizoaffective disorder and complex comorbidities (Bellamy, 2025; Bellamy & Laurent, 2025; Laurent et al., 2025).

• Ongoing trials in collaboration with UK universities, including a 24‑week mixed‑methods clinical trial of online ketogenic therapy for depression and anxiety (Bellamy, 2026).

Useful Links

At IKRT, we offer a range of programs designed to educate and support you in ketogenic metabolic therapy. If you are interested in learning more, please visit:

ikrt.org

Integrative Ketogenic Research and Therapies | IKRT

At IKRT, Dr Bellamy supports people with mental health conditions to learn how to use ketogenic metabolic therapy safely and effectively, with professional guidance, education, and community support. IKRT offers personalised ketogenic metabolic therapy for mental health conditions. Structured, supported online programs and consultations for depression, anxiety, and brain health, because this work is not meant to be done alone.

If you want to make sure you are eating the right foods for ketogenic metabolic therapy, you can start here:

ikrt.simplero.com

Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health Food List

Wondering what to eat on a ketogenic diet for mental health without getting overwhelmed? Get my Free Ketogenic Therapy (for Mental Health) Food Li...

References

Bellamy, E. L. (2025). Ketogenic metabolic therapy for schizoaffective disorder: A retrospective case series of psychotic symptom remission and mood recovery. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, 1506304. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1506304

Bellamy, E. L. (2026). A retrospective evaluation of an online group ketogenic metabolic therapy intervention on mental health outcomes. Frontiers in Nutrition, 13, 1751564. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1751564

Bellamy, E. L., & Laurent, N. (2025). Transdiagnostic remission of psychiatric comorbidity in post‑traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, and binge‑eating disorder using ketogenic metabolic therapy: A retrospective case report. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, 1600123. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1600123

Laurent, N., Bellamy, E. L., Hristova, D., & Houston, A. (2024). Ketogenic diets in clinical psychology: Examining the evidence and implications for practice. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1468894. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1468894

Laurent, N., Bellamy, E. L., Hristova, D., & Houston, A. (2025). Ketogenic metabolic therapy in the remission of chronic major depressive disorder: A retrospective case study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, 1549782. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1549782