Posts by Ethan Clark3

11 posts shown.

The constant chaos with foreign policy in Politics · Jul 27, 2026

It feels like we can't even get a month of stability before another massive escalation happens. The back-and-forth with Iran makes everything feel so unpredictable and dangerous for everyone involved. Does anyone else feel like we're just stuck in a loop of constant crisis management?

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Schizophrenia - General Discussion in Psychology & Therapy · May 15, 2023

placidstag7 said:That hits home for me. Honestly, I find myself constantly craving sweets—it’s becoming a bit of an obsession... It's almost like when you're having one of those grueling, exhausting days, sugar becomes that one reliable anchor you can grab onto just to keep from being swept away by the chaos.

Switching to keto seems to kill those sugar cravings, plus ketones might help with anxiety and depression.

An excerpt from research at Oxford : a ketone Ester drink Lowers human Ghrelin and Appetite Elevated blood BHB occurs during both exogenous and endogenous ketosis ; therefore:

A Ketone Ester Drink Lowers Human Ghrelin and Appetite

Elevated blood BHB occurs during both exogenous and endogenous ketosis ; therefore, BHB may be a direct mediator of the lower appetite and altered gut hormone levels seen in both settings...

I guess you can pick up ketones in powder or liquid form, they should probably help.

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Schizophrenia - General Discussion in Psychology & Therapy · Apr 12, 2023

Taking antidepressants or steroids like prednisone can sometimes cause some extra weight gain.

Antipsychotics, antidepressants, and certain mood stabilizers are probably the biggest culprits when it comes to weight changes. Most of the major antidepressants—like Prozac, Zoloft, or Lexapro—tend to make gaining weight a bit more likely.

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Schizophrenia - General Discussion in Psychology & Therapy · Apr 12, 2023

I don't have specific data on individual medications, so I suppose it’s worth looking into what information is actually out there.

But, here is what Zoloft—or sertraline—actually does:
Sertraline triggers MPT in isolated liver mitochondria
MPT, which involves the progressive permeabilization of the inner mitochondrial membrane, disrupts the membranes, causes them to swell, and eventually leads to cell death.

It's probably no wonder why people stay on antidepressants for years without much real improvement. They just end up gaining weight.

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Schizophrenia - General Discussion in Psychology & Therapy · Apr 12, 2023

It’s pretty concerning how scientific studies have shown that certain antipsychotics, like clozapine, damage mitochondria:

Clozapine damages mitochondria and triggers inflammation in insulin-responsive cells, specifically those linked to obesity. These issues seem closely tied to the metabolic changes seen in studies regarding metabolic syndrome, obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes.

Here is another study: Resveratrol prevents haloperidol-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by inducing autophagy in SH-SY5Y cells

Haloperidol is a common antipsychotic that can increase neuronal oxidative stress, which might lead to side effects like tardive dyskinesia and neurite retraction. Autophagy acts as a defense mechanism against mitochondrial damage caused by the buildup of reactive oxygen species (ROS). While resveratrol is an antioxidant known for neuroprotective qualities, it wasn't clear if it could actually stimulate autophagy to mitigate the damage caused by haloperidol.

Maybe that’s why people in the West, who are treated with antipsychotics, struggle to ever fully step away from them, making relapses feel almost expected.
I guess it's also interesting that in lower-income countries, the rates of lasting recovery after a first psychotic episode are much higher—which seems similar to what happens with non-antipsychotic treatments or very low doses, like what they've tried in Finland and a few other places.

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Schizophrenia - General Discussion in Psychology & Therapy · Apr 11, 2023

Could schizophrenia actually stem from mitochondrial damage (our cells' energy source)?
It seems like more and more research is pointing toward this theory, and I guess the same might apply to bipolar disorder and depression too.
For example, check this out: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25446950/#:~:text=Mitochondrial%20deficit%2C%20altered%20re dox%20balance,to%20neuroprogressive%20changes%20in %20schizophrenia.
Mitochondria are pretty vital for regulating cell functions, like bioenergetics, calcium homeostasis, redox signaling, and programmed cell death. They also seem essential for various aspects of neurodevelopment and how neurons function.

That said, if mitochondria are damaged, it could mess with brain bioenergetics during development and alter critical neural processes, which might lead to neurodevelopmental issues. One widely accepted mechanism linked to the neurodevelopmental roots of schizophrenia is an immune inflammatory pathway. However, I suppose we still don't fully understand the exact source of that inflammation or the underlying neurobiological mechanisms behind schizophrenia.

Recent findings suggest that disruptions in mitochondrial network dynamics might lead to various nervous system disorders involving inflammatory pathologies. In schizophrenia, we see mitochondrial deficits, altered redox balance, and chronic low-grade inflammation. It’s possible that responses to oxidative or nitrosative stress caused by mitochondrial dysfunction could trigger those immune pathways, potentially leading to neuroprogressive changes. We're basically looking at how genomics, proteomics, and imaging studies all seem to support the idea that mitochondrial damage plays a role in the development of schizophrenia.

So, maybe mainstream medicine should consider ways to improve mitochondrial function for schizophrenia and similar conditions, rather than just focusing on lowering dopamine levels?

To quote Dietary Ketosis and Mitohormesis: Potential Implications for Mitochondrial Function and Human Health : At any rate, several studies have shown that ketogenic diets can increase mitochondrial content, and plenty of research suggests these diets boost the expression, amount, or activity of mitochondrial proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation and fat oxidation.

Plus, sugar isn't just bad for our waistlines and teeth; it's also tough on our mitochondria and contributes to various metabolic health issues. Consuming too much sugar puts stress on the mitochondria, causing them to release free radicals. I think that's what they call oxidative damage.

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Schizophrenia - General Discussion in Psychology & Therapy · Feb 22, 2023

Joshua Parker76 said:Look, I get that food can impact your mental state, but the idea that it’ll just delete schizophrenia symptoms? No way. When I asked my psychiatrist how much longer I'd be stuck on antipsychotics, he basically told me: "Just be glad we actually have decent meds available."

It’s probably hard to draw any solid conclusions right now, maybe because there aren't enough clinical studies yet, but I guess these examples are worth noting:
New study: Severe mental illness improves on a ketogenic diet
A psychiatrist in France is seeing incredible results in hospitalized patients. :
Depression and psychosis symptoms improved in all 28 patients who followed the diet for more than two weeks, with changes appearing within three weeks or less. About 43% of patients reached clinical remission, and 64% were discharged from the hospital needing fewer psychiatric medications. Dr. Danan has never seen this level of improvement before—even with patients he's treated for years or decades, most of whom had been hospitalized under his care multiple times.

An article by Harvard professor Chris Palmer
Chronic schizophrenia put into remission without meds

"The focus shifted toward bioenergetics—essentially how brain cells produce energy. It's well-documented that people with schizophrenia are three times more likely to develop diabetes. There's a common debate about whether antipsychotics cause this, since they are known to lead to weight gain and diabetes. However, recent research suggests that isn't the whole story. It seems even those newly diagnosed with schizophrenia may already show insulin resistance, even if they haven't developed diabetes yet. This implies their brains might not be getting enough energy from glucose. Other brain studies have uncovered metabolic issues, such as increased inflammation and oxidative stress.

The medical version of the ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carb, moderate-protein regimen that has proven effective for epilepsy. In my article, I explain how the ketogenic diet can help stop seizures by looking at its history and the research showing it as a powerful intervention for epilepsy. Don't let the word 'diet' fool you; this is a potent medical intervention. Studies indicate that over 50 percent of children with drug-resistant epilepsy see a significant drop in seizure frequency and severity, with some becoming seizure-free.

Using epilepsy medications in psychiatry isn't anything new. Anticonvulsants are frequently used to manage psychiatric disorders. Examples include Depakote, Lamictal, Tegretol, Neurontin, Topamax, and all benzodiazepines (like Valium and Ativan, which are typically prescribed for anxiety). These anticonvulsants are routinely used in treating various psychiatric conditions..."

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Schizophrenia - General Discussion in Psychology & Therapy · Feb 20, 2023

Has anyone here tried using a ketogenic diet to help manage their condition?
Over the last few years, there’s been more and more evidence suggesting that keto can really improve mental health—for some people, it has even completely cleared up schizophrenia symptoms.

In this video, a professor from Harvard breaks down exactly how it works:
Dr. Chris Palmer: Diet & Nutrition for Mental Health

According to Google:
The guest on this episode is Chris Palmer, M. D., a board-certified psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He discusses the vital link between nutrition, metabolism, and mental health, along with his pioneering work using the ketogenic diet to successfully treat patients with various mental illnesses, including depression and schizophrenia. Dr. Palmer explains how the ketogenic diet is an evidence-based treatment for epilepsy, mimics fasting states, and may help offset cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. He describes the key role mitochondria play in mental health, how certain conditions likely stem from mitochondrial dysfunction, and how low-carb diets boost mitochondrial turnover to improve mental wellness. He also covers how low-carb diets positively impact the gut microbiome and weight loss, risk factors for mitochondrial health like marijuana and alcohol, and the best ways to increase circulating ketones based on individual needs. We also touch on how a ketogenic diet affects mood, sleep, and fertility. Dr. Palmer's work offers a revolutionary approach to mental health and illness that, given the prevalence of mental health challenges, should interest people of all ages and backgrounds.

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Schizophrenia - General Discussion in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 6, 2022

I guess this could be some really good news for schizophrenia treatment. It looks like a new drug that doesn't rely on dopamine or serotonin receptors:
https://wellcome.org/news/potential-...ophrenia-KarXT

The US-based biotech firm Karuna Therapeutics Inc. has developed a new combination drug called KarXT. This might be the first new pharmacological approach to treating schizophrenia in over 50 years, which could offer a different option for people living with the condition.

KarXT is a combination therapy, meaning it puts two different drugs—xanomeline and trospium chloride—into one single treatment.

These drugs target receptors in the brain and body linked to the cholinergic neurotransmitter system, which plays a big role in things like learning, memory, digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, movement, and more. There are two types of cholinergic receptors: nicotinic and muscarinic. In KarXT, xanomeline activates the muscarinic receptors in the brain, while trospium chloride blocks those same receptors from being activated in the rest of the body.

Xanomeline was originally developed by the American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company to treat Alzheimer's disease. While trials showed it helped improve cognition and certain behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer's—like reducing delusions, agitation, and hallucinations—development stopped because some people had problematic side effects. Those issues were caused by the activation of muscarinic receptors throughout the body.

Karuna’s founder, Andrew Miller, predicted that combining trospium chloride with xanomeline would cut down those side effects, suggesting this new therapy could reduce psychosis in people living with schizophrenia.

And it worked.

We funded Karuna back in 2015 and 2018 to run Phase 1 and then Phase 2 trials for KarXT.

In the Phase 1 trial, KarXT appeared safe and well-tolerated, showing a 50% reduction in side effects compared to using xanomeline alone in healthy adults. Results from the Phase 2 trials in people with schizophrenia were also positive; in 2019, Karuna announced that KarXT led to a statistically significant reduction in psychotic symptoms. Now, seven years after our initial investment, the Phase 3 trial results for KarXT in schizophrenia show a treatment that can:

result in clinically and statistically significant improvements in psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, compared to a placebo
improve negative symptoms of schizophrenia—like lack of motivation, social withdrawal, and cognitive impairment, which current drugs often miss—and
avoid the usual problematic side effects seen with current antipsychotics, such as drowsiness, weight gain, and abnormal motor movements.

The KarXT trial is likely the first successful Phase 3 trial for a drug that doesn't directly rely on dopaminergic or serotonergic pathways in the brain in about 70 years. KarXT works in a completely new way and seems to be well-tolerated while easing schizophrenia symptoms, potentially offering a new treatment path for those with psychosis.

The FDA decision regarding this drug is expected around mid-2023. I guess we'll see if the current trials bring some promising news.

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Republican Party - General Discussion in Political Scene · Feb 11, 2020

I guess Kovač is originally from an Imotski native area.

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Handball World Championship: Portugal vs. [Opponent] - THE FINALS! in Other Sports · Feb 3, 2003

I heard on the radio that the players actually wanted Thompson to perform at the celebration, but City Hall wouldn't budge on it.

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