Despite the efforts of modern medicine, the mental health crisis continues to grow. The United States military is hardly immune from this calamity with service members reporting greater instances of mental illness than civilian populations. Current treatment options show some efficacy but are insufficient to stymie the increase in illness. In this thesis, I explore metabolic psychiatry and its primary tool, the ketogenic diet, as an additional tool to combat mental illness. In reviewing the most prominent research, I find that small sample sizes and lack of control groups are the primary factors precluding broad acceptance. However, given the low cost to risk ratio of metabolic psychiatry and the growing mental health crisis, it remains important for United States Special Operations Command to begin adoption of such innovative treatments. I provide a path for implementation of metabolic psychiatry via the Preservation of the Force and Family program that includes education and further research. Given the nature and complexity of mental illness, no single solution can reverse the mental health crisis, but we must remain open to novel ideas and willing explore beyond traditional answers.

Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.

Major, United States Air Force