Introduction
 A massive amount of research has been done on this question. Thousands of papers have been published, and dozens of books have also been published on this topic.
Mirror Neuron
 A massive amount of research has been done on this question. Thousands of papers have been published, and dozens of books have also been published on this topic.
Mirror Neuron
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Brain Cells from Stem Cells
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 This diagram shows the tremendous importance of stem cells. I favor stem cell research.
Kynurenine: Of Rats and Men
 Kynurenine is in the main pathway of tryptophan degredation.
"Levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA), an endogenous product of tryptophan degradation, are elevated in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of individuals with schizophrenia (SZ)." Pocivavsek et al (1)Â
"Collectively, these studies introduce a novel, naturalistic rat model of SZ, and also suggest that increases in brain KYNA during a vulnerable period in brain development may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of the disease." Pocivavsek et al (1)
 These brilliant authors are from the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA, and the Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Tryptophan
 Tryptophan itself has been implicated in "psychopathology" (2). These scientists are from the Department of Biological Psychiatry, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. s.r.russo@acggn.azg.nl
"Several somatic illnesses are associated with psychiatric comorbidity. Evidence is provided that availability of the essential amino acid tryptophan, which is the precursor of serotonin, may cause this phenomenon." Russo et al (2).Â
"The catabolism of tryptophan is stimulated under the influence of stress, hormones and inflammation by the induction of the enzymes tryptophan pyrrolase (in the liver) and IDO (ubiquitous)." Russo et al (2)Â
 This is a very interesting and useful approach to the study of mental diseases.
Lapin
 Dr. Lapin of Russia has linked kyurenine with anxiety. Supposedly kynurenine causes anxiety (3). This was demonstrated in rats.
Oxenkrug
"Depression and dementia are the symptoms of pellagra, the diet-induced TRY deficiency." Oxenkrug (4)Â
 In pellagra there is a deficiency of niacin, an important vitamin that can be produced in the body from tryptopha. Pellagra is treated by niacin supplementation.
Food Allergy Theories
 Food allergy theories, favored by orthomoleclar scientists, are some of the strongest theories in psychiatry. A number of known physical diseases with psychiatric symptoms such as PKU, celiac disease, and acute intermittent porphyria, have amino acid excesses (2). With all of this smoke, there must be a fire.
Conclusions
 Mental diseases are definitely organic. There have been thousands of papers reporting positive findings in neuropathology and biochemical pathology. I have been wading through these papers and books for years. More information is presented in my previous psychiatry posts.
 The older papes are discussed in my website, which is Ref. 5. More research needs to be done.
 It does appear that mental illness is caused by one or more errors in tryptophan metabolism. Orthomolecular treatment, which is described in Ref. 5, is recommended.
References
1. Eur J Neurosci. 2012 Apr 20. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2012.08064.x. [Epub ahead of print] Pre- and postnatal exposure to kynurenine causes cognitive deficits in adulthood.
2. Russo S, Kema IP, Fokkema MR, Boon JC, Willemse PH, de Vries EG, den Boer JA, Korf J. Tryptophan as a link between psychopathology and somatic states. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2003;65:665–671. [PubMed]
3. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1996;398:191-4. Kynurenines and anxiety.
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Credit
 These images are presented courtesy of Public Domain Clipart.
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Craig Olson
CraigEdwinOlson1@yahoo.com
 These images are presented courtesy of Public Domain Clipart.
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Craig Olson
CraigEdwinOlson1@yahoo.com
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Comments: 7
Americas Mental Illness Epidemic
"any of the five classes of drugs that are commonly used in psychiatric patients (antidepressants, antipsychotics, psychostimulants, tranquilizers and anti-seizure/"mood-stabilizer" drugs) have shown microscopic, macroscopic, biochemical, clinical and/or radiological evidence of brain shrinkage and other signs of brain damage, which can result in clinically-diagnosable, permanent dementia, premature death and a variety of other related brain disorders that can mimic mental illnesses. "
way koool again!