Longer-term outcome in the prevention of psychotic disorders by the Vienna omega-3 study.
Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential for neural development and function. As key components of brain tissue, omega-3 PUFAs play critical roles in brain development and function, and a lack of these fatty acids has been implicated in a number of mental health conditions over the lifespan, including schizophrenia. We have previously shown that a 12-week intervention with omega-3 PUFAs reduced the risk of progression to psychotic disorder in young people with subthreshold psychotic states for a 12-month period compared with placebo. We have now completed a longer-term follow-up of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, at a median of 6.7 years. Here we show that brief intervention with omega-3 PUFAs reduced both the risk of progression to psychotic disorder and psychiatric morbidity in general in this study. The majority of the individuals from the omega-3 group did not show severe functional impairment and no longer experienced attenuated psychotic symptoms at follow-up.
Orygen-The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
G Paul
GP
Amminger
Orygen-The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
Miriam R
MR
Schäfer
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria.
Monika
M
Schlögelhofer
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria.
Claudia M
CM
Klier
Orygen-The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
Patrick D
PD
McGorry
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3