A nutritionist approach to psychiatric treatment: Notes from a brief experience

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to describe the work of the nutritionist in a psychiatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital, with patients with excess weight due to the use of certain psychiatric medications. Method: Content analysis of the clinical history and brief field notes, as complementary material. The clinical-qualitative method was applied in data collection and analysis. Results: Conversations with patients focused on their relationship with food were more effective in managing excessive weight gain than insistence on individualized and restrictive diets. The role of the family was important to stren-gthen the bond and favor dietary changes. Efforts to identify the emotions involved in eating, including the pleasures given by emotional, cultural, and social factors were also important. Conclusions: Nutritional care in the psychiatric field should emphasize dialogue related to the eating practices of patients. Strict dietary prescriptions can have the same unproductive effect as traditional biomedical practices if they do not consider subjective aspects of patients.