A Co-Designed Ketogenic Diet Feasibility Study in FEP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Fuelling Recovery: A Co-Designed Ketogenic Diet Feasibility Study in First-Episode Psychosis
IRAS ID
365935
Contact name
Scott Weich
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sheffield
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Severe mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can have profound impacts on those living with these conditions. Medications are often used to treat SMIs as they are proven to help many people. For some, medication does not always work and can cause side effects, including weight gain and the development of conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Weight changes often occur rapidly once treatment has started and is difficult to reverse.
There is recent interest in whether dietary approaches, specifically the Ketogenic Diet (KD), might help to reduce symptoms such as hearing voices, as well as improving health more generally for those living with SMIs. The KD is a high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet which has been reported as having positive outcomes in studies of common mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. We do not know if it is helpful for people living with other kinds of mental health difficulties.
This study aims to test whether ketogenic diets alongside medical treatments could be feasibly used for people who have experienced a first episode of psychosis (FEP). Changing diet can be difficult, and we want to find out if a KD would be acceptable and realistic to achieve for this group of people.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/SW/0007
Date of REC Opinion
19 Feb 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion