Toxic Metal Overload Depression – Walsh Biotype

Toxic Metal Overload Depression – Walsh Biotypes: 5^th of 5 Subsets

Since depression due to metal toxicity is relatively uncommon, a logical first step is to rule out the presence of undermethylation , folate deficiency, copper overload, pyrrole disorder, casein /gluten allergy , or a thyroid imbalance.
~ William Walsh

Toxic Metal Overload: ADHD, Depression & Treatment Failure

WD5: Walsh Depression #5 – This is the last in a series [WD1: Undermethylation here, | WD2: Overmethylation here | WD3: Copper Excess here | WD4: Pyrrole Disorder here] of 5 posts on Dr Bill Walsh's 5 biotypes of depression as described in his book Nutrient Power ² listed below. A careful grounding in these subsets will connect with laboratory findings for more predictable medical results. This brief report on the Toxic Metal Overload subtype of depression closes this Walsh Depression biotype series – more coming on Autism, Alzheimer's, Mood disorder.

This Toxic Metal Overload biotype is exceedingly important for CorePsych readers because it the least common and the most difficult to identify. I see Toxic Metal Overload most often, as Dr Walsh indicates above, after I've looked carefully at several other comorbid conditions, especially immune dysregulation. More often than not I test for heavy metals for almost any chronic psychiatric treatment failure, especially with years of chronic bowel or metabolic/immunity issues.

Toxic Metal: Too many fail SSRI treatments with trial after trial of otherwise appropriate medications for depression symptoms, not the biologically-based disorder. At CorePsych I've used Tissue Mineral Analysis – Hair Trace Element testing for years, and found it to prove exceedingly useful to resolve likely treatment failures.

Personality & Character Disorders, Axis II – Now Biological and Treatable

As you take a few moments to review this CorePsych series of Walsh Depressions [all linked below] just think of the implications and possibilities for chronic psychiatric treatment failures. Many suffering individuals previously considered as ‘out of the range of treatment options' now can consider evidence from multiple biomarker and laboratory testing options. In my office practice I'm at once humbled as I regularly find new answers based upon these fresh data points – and regretful that these protocols only now, belatedly come to my attention. These details matter everyday in any outpatient psychiatric practice.

About Dr William Walsh: CorePsych Critical Thinker

Dr Walsh has presented his research at the American Psychiatric Association, the U.S. Senate, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Society for Neuroscience, and has been a speaker at more than 30 international conferences. He has authored more than 200 scientific articles and reports, and has five patents.

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Symptoms and Traits of Toxic Metal Overload

Approximately 5% of the 2,800 persons in our depression database exhibited toxic-metal poisoning as their primary chemical imbalance. Most of these cases involved overloads of lead, mercury, cadmium , or arsenic. A careful chemical analysis of toxic metals in scalp hair can serve as a screen, recognizing the possibility of a false positive resulting from external contamination. Many doctors test for toxic metal overload by introducing a chelating chemical that drives toxins from the body and then measuring the increased amount of toxins being excreted in the stool and urine. Unfortunately, reliable reference ranges have not yet been established for these challenge tests. Another barrier to diagnosis is differing symptoms for the various toxic metals.³

Lead: Toxic metals in the brain can cause great mischief including the following: weakening of the blood-brain barrier, altered neurotransmitter levels, destruction or demyelination of the myelin sheath, increased oxidative stress, destruction of glutathione and other protective proteins.⁴

Mercury: Is a lethal poison that is especially devastating to children from conception to age four years, the period when most brain development occurs.

Cadmium: Is especially dangerous since it tends to cause kidney damage and require careful removal.

Arsenic: Difficult to assess. A definitive test for arsenic poisoning is the presence of elevated levels in both urine and scalp hair.

See more details on all of these in Nutrient Power.²

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No Dr Walsh Video On Toxic Metal Overload – Brief Dr Susser Comments: 3:02 min

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Characteristics of Toxic Metal Overload – Incidence: 5% of clinical depression [n – 2800]: ⁴

• Depression that arises suddenly during a period of relative calm and wellness
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Increased irritability
• Headaches and muscle weakness
• Metallic taste in mouth
• Bad breath
• Low energy
• Kidney and liver damage
• Failure to respond to counseling or psychiatric medications
• Significant cognitive decline
• Mood swings
• Nervousness
• Insomnia
• Muscle twitching
• Tremors
• Weakness
• Muscle atrophy

Toxic Metal Disorder Response Time ⁵

There is mild worsening the first 10 days, followed by steady improvement for four to six months. Removal of lead is especially slow (half-life of long-term lead in the body is 22 years). Other metal toxins can be removed relatively quickly.

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Four More Measurable Depression Biotypes

CorePsych Postings: the additional four Walsh depression biotypes, ³ and incidence in his research.

1. Undermethylated – decreased serotonin and dopamine – 38%
2. Overmethylated – elevated serotonin and dopamine – 20%
3. Copper Excess – elevated norepinephrine – 17%
4. Pyrrole Disorder – reduced serotonin, GABA – 15%

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Download Overview Of Walsh CorePsych Testing:

• CorePsych Assessment – Four pages on Specific Walsh Presentations and Outcome Details
  Click Here to Download
• Walsh on The CorePsych Critical Thinking page:
  http://corepsych.com/critical
• Epigenetics: Two excellent video explanations for reasons to understand epigenetics:
  http://www.corepsych.com/2013/08/epigenetics-matter-precise-treatment/

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Walsh Resources and References

http://corepsych.com/walsh-resources

For interesting videos on epigenetics: A playlist for the public, and a different playlist for professionals, and a full presentation by Dr Walsh on the entire assessment and treatment process.

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PS: Don't Forget This TotallyADD Recording

Register for, and make sure you go back to watch, our Rick Green/Parker Webinars as we discuss Why [Dig Deeper], How [Brain Function and Meds] and, in the third TotallyADD Webinar [Agenda], What [To Explore Biomedically] series.

Topics: psychiatric diagnosis and treatment for ADHD/Executive Function. Mind science is slowly but inexorably changing. Watch the first two meetings to prepare for our anticipated discussion about Dr Walsh's laboratory measurements and nutrient interventions in the third webinar. Details matter.

NB: The first Why Webinar is now recorded and ready for review. Prepare for How recorded on Oct. 19, available here: http://totallyadd.com/webinar-archives/ – [link to all the webinar – archives] as soon as they get it up after the program.

1. Link for the specific first Why Webinar: http://www.corepsych.com/totallyadd-why-video
2. Link for the second How Webinar: http://www.corepsych.com/totallyadd-how-video

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Do subscribe below for future CorePsych updates, and please forward these important new data-tools to your colleagues.

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¹ Walsh, Dr. William J. (2014-05-06). Nutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain (Kindle Location 1544). Skyhorse Publishing. Kindle Edition.
² Walsh, WJ, Nutrient Power – Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain, Skyhorse Publishing 2012. Paperback link.
³ Ibid., p 87.
⁴ Ibid, p 88.
⁵ Ibid., p 150.

Related articles

• Overmethylation and Depression – Walsh Biotypes
• ADHD Insights: Adrenal Compromise And Copper
• Copper Excess and Depression – Walsh Biotypes
• Pyrroles disorder
• Pyrrole Disorder and Depression – Walsh Biotypes
• Nutrient Power: The Walsh Research Institute