Keto and Schizophrenia: What the Research Actually Shows

On February 5, 2026, the U.S. Health Secretary said that the ketogenic diet had cured schizophrenia, a statement that prompted rapid pushback from psychiatric researchers. Many experts pointed out that the secretary’s words overstated the scientific record, and Christopher M. Palmer, a Harvard psychiatrist whose 2019 case reports were cited, has clarified that he has not used the term 'cure' in his publications. Nevertheless, the exchange focused attention on a growing area of research that treats serious mental illness through metabolic interventions rather than only neurochemical targets.

Palmer’s 2019 case report described two patients who entered long periods of remission after strict ketogenic metabolic therapy, and a 2024 pilot trial at Stanford followed 21 participants with serious mental illness who also showed, on average, a 31% improvement on a clinical rating scale while remaining on medication. A 2025 editorial in BJPsych Open, authored by Palmer, and several systematic reviews have called for rigorous randomized controlled trials to test efficacy and safety. Critics emphasize that most existing studies are small, often lack control groups, and cannot establish causation; consequently, claims of a 'cure' are not supported by robust evidence.

Clinicians therefore view ketogenic approaches as possible adjunctive treatments that might benefit some patients’ symptoms or metabolic health, but they urge caution: antipsychotic drugs remain the frontline therapy and ketogenic protocols used in research are clinician‑monitored, restrictive regimens rather than casual diet changes. If larger randomized trials confirm benefit and safety, ketogenic metabolic therapies could be integrated into care pathways; until then, careful research and shared decision‑making with clinicians are essential.