title: [Omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of affective disorders: an overview of the literature].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  More and more interest is being shown in fish oil because it contains omega-3 fatty acids which may have beneficial effects in a wide range of somatic and psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To search the literature for evidence of the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids in affective disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the literature with the help of Pubmed (1966-March 2006) using the keywords 'depression', 'affective disorder', 'bipolar disorder', 'seasonal affective disorder', 'postpartum depression', 'puerperal depression', 'fatty acids', 'eicosapentaenoic acid', 'arachidonic acid', 'docosahexaenoic acid' and 'fish oil'. We obtained additional information from the bibliographic references attached to the articles concerned.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Epidemiological studies and studies on fatty acid concentrations suggest a link between omega-3 fatty acids and affective disorders, although some of the results are contradictory. Some clinical investigations found that treatment with omega-3 fatty acids did have a positive effect, but the number of test subjects was very limited and some investigations even produced negative results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is insufficient clinical evidence to prove conclusively that treatment with omega-3 fatty acids has a beneficial effect on affective disorders.
authors.affiliation: GGZ Duin- en Bollenstreek, Voorhout. a.vanstrater@ggzduinenbollenstreek.nl
authors.forename: A C P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: van Strater
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Bouvy
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils