title: Omega-3 fatty acid monotherapy for pediatric bipolar disorder: a prospective open-label trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To test the effectiveness and safety of omega-3 fatty acids (Omegabrite(R) brand) in the treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder (BPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects (N=20) were outpatients of both sexes, 6 to 17 years of age, with a DSM-IV diagnosis of BPD and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score of >15 treated over an 8-week period in open-label trial with omega-3 fatty acids 1290 mg-4300 mg combined EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects experienced a statistically significant but modest 8.9+/-2.9 point reduction in the YMRS scores (baseline YMRS=28.9+/-10.1; endpoint YMRS=19.1+/-2.6, p<0.001). Adverse events were few and mild. Red blood cell membrane levels of EPA and DHA increased in treated subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As only 35% of these subjects had a response by the usual accepted criteria of >50% decrease on the YMRS, omega-3 fatty acids treatment was associated with a very modest improvement in manic symptoms in children with BPD.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02138, USA. jwozniak@partners.org
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wozniak
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biederman
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mick
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waxmonsky
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hantsoo
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Best
authors.forename: Joanne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cluette-Brown
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laposata
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3