Welcome to NP 150: Mechanisms in the Diet-Mental Health Relationship Part I! This course is Part I of the final course in the Introductory Certificate in Nutritional Psychology (NP 100 Series), serves as a cornerstone in the emerging field of nutritional psychology and focuses on illuminating the mechanisms by which diet impacts the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR).

In the context of DMHR, a mechanism refers to the detailed series of events or processes at the molecular, cellular, or physiological level enacted through dietary intake. These processes involve complex biochemical pathways, molecular interactions, and cellular processes that influence our mood, cognition, and behavior and collectively contribute to our overall functioning and mental health.

By integrating perspectives from psychology, physiology, psychiatry, neuroscience, biochemistry, behavioral and social sciences, nutrition/nutrigenetics, microbiome research, and public health, this course will transform how you view the impact of dietary choices on mental well-being.

Once enrolled, you'll have 120 days to access and complete this course. Please make the most of this opportunity within this specified timeframe by downloading the Module Download Kits and taking notes as you review the materials. If you are a CNP Member, remember to apply your discount code when enrolling!

On behalf of the CNP Team, welcome to the continuation of your learning journey in nutritional psychology!

Use of Course Materials:
If you are an instructor, educator, or clinician wishing to use select figures/illustrations in your practice or courses, please contact editor@nutritional-psychology.org for permission to access up to three requested figures (You’ll be asked to provide your course syllabus or plan for using the materials. The CNP Administrators will review this plan for consideration for granting permission for their use. Permission is subject to CNP reviewer approval.

Conflict of Interest Statement/Course Support:
CNP is committed to providing equal learning opportunities for students. If your needs have not been fully met, please contact us through your online portal or at editor@nutritional-psychology.org, and we will make all necessary accommodations. Neither CNP nor the course instructors have any financial, commercial, or other conflicts of interest to disclose related to the planning, promotion, delivery, or evaluation of this continuing education course. CNP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization dedicated to facilitating the development of nutritional psychology within mental healthcare.

Continuing Education Statement:
CNP is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor Continuing Education (CE) for psychologists and mental health providers, by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) to provide CE credits for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). This course currently provides 34 CE Credits. CNP maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CNP is approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) for licensed Dietitians and Dietitians Technicians, Registered (DTRs), to receive 34 CPEU through Activity Type 742 Eligible Enduring.

Taking this Course for Continuing Education (CE/CPE) credits:
CAMFT (Instructions):
Upon completing NP 150 Part I (including the general course evaluation), please message your instructor and provide your full name and provider or license number. We will validate your course completion and issue a certificate meeting BBS criteria.

APA and CDR (Instructions):
For those of you who are licensed psychologists, Registered Dietitians (RDs), and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs), the certificate at the end of the course is sufficient. You do not need to contact us for anything additional.

How to properly cite NP 150 Part I:
Citing the whole course (NP 150):
Instructor(s). (Year). Title of course [Type of course]. Name of Platform. URL
Example: Behairy, S. F. (2024). Mechanisms in the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR) [Online course]. The Center for Nutritional Psychology. https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/np-150/

Citing a specific module:
Instructor(s). (Year). Title of module or chapter. In Title of course [Type of course]. Name of Platform. URL
Example: Behairy, S. F. (2024). Biological mechanism in DMHR. In Mechanisms in the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR) [Online course]. The Center for Nutritional Psychology. https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/np-150/

Intext citation:
(Behairy, 2024)