title: Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses in children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3PUFA) are in increasing use in the general population to treat health problems. The objective of the current article is to review the evidence for the rationale and benefit of LCn-3PUFA in the treatment of common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search of Psychlit, PubMed and Cochrane Databases was conducted using the terms child, adolescent, bipolar, depression, psychosis, first-episode psychosis, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, psychiatric, omega-3, n-3, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. Further studies were identified from the bibliographies of published reviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One small randomized controlled trial with LCn-3PUFA supplementation in depression in children found a small beneficial effect over placebo. Four placebo-controlled trials showed uncertain benefit of LCn-3PUFA for ADHD. Single placebo-controlled trials showed no benefit in autism or bipolar disorder. There is an absence of studies examining benefit for first-episode psychosis or schizophrenia in children and adolescents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While children and adolescents are receiving LCn-3PUFA for a range of psychiatric indications, there is only evidence of likely benefit for unipolar depression.
authors.affiliation: 1Nutraceuticals Research Group, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Edward H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.affiliation: 2The Bipolar Program, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Tanya L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hanstock
authors.affiliation: 1Nutraceuticals Research Group, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Manohar L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.affiliation: 4Central Clinical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hazell