A Transdiagnostic Approach to the Orthomolecular Treatment of Emotional Disorders: Preliminary Ideas for Intervention and Suggestions for Future Research

Most serious mental disorders are currently treated as though they are discrete diagnostic entities deserving of disorder-speci!c treatment. However, it is known that many commonalities exist across all emotional disorders (particularly early-stage or mild-to-moderate anxiety and mood disorders). Accordingly, a more parsimonious approach might o"er substantive bene!ts with less cost and broader therapeutic e#cacy. In the !eld of psychology, broad-spectrum transdiagnostic approaches are gaining traction because of their emphasis on psychological perturbations common to emotional disorders. $e transdiagnostic approach suggests an array of possibilities when considering potential orthomolecular treatments for emotional disorders. If orthomolecular treatments could lessen or ameliorate psychological perturbations associated with mild to moderate emotional disorders, it should be possible to achieve favourable outcomes with fewer costs and without the need for extensive laboratory testing and time-consuming medical investigations. $e innovative, comprehensive, and targeted therapeutic system proposed in this paper is based on the underlying pathology associated with emotional disorders, and aims to address negative a"ect (a.k.a., neuroticism), repetitive negative thinking, experiential avoidance, and dysfunctional decision-making and cognitive control. It is presumed that some of the orthomolecular interventions proposed in the Transdiagnostic Orthomolecular Approach Version 1.0 should be capable of ameliorating the shared psychological perturbations associated with mild to moderate emotional disorders. $e limitations of this approach are also described, as are areas for potential research and future directions.