Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Not Help Reduce Psychosis Risk
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were no more effective than placebo in preventing psychosis in young people at ultrahigh risk who were also receiving high-quality psychosocial treatment, according to a study published online in JAMA Psychiatry.
The findings from the multicenter study failed to replicate those from a previous single-center trial that suggested omega-3 PUFAs may reduce the risk of transition in patients at ultrahigh risk of psychotic disorders.
The double-blind trial randomized 304 adults at ultrahigh risk for psychosis to either 1.4 grams of omega-3 PUFAs or placebo daily over 6 months. In addition, participants received up to 20 sessions of cognitive behavioral case management and were allowed to continue antidepressant therapy for depression. The patients were from 10 specialized early psychosis treatment centers in Australia, Asia, and Europe.
Rates of transition were similar for both groups at 6 and 12 months. At 6 months, the PUFA group had a 6.7% transition rate compared with 5.1% for the control group. At 12 months, the transition rate for the PUFA group was 11.5% and 11.2% for the placebo group, according to the study.
In both groups, the transition rate was lower than researchers had expected.
“Given the substantial symptomatic and functional improvement in both groups, the other treatments received (i.e., cognitive behavioral case management and antidepressants) likely produced a ceiling effect beyond which omega-3 PUFAs, even if effective, could not be shown to confer additional benefits,” researchers wrote.
“Nevertheless, the main conclusion is that omega-3 PUFAs are not effective under conditions where good quality, evidence-based psychosocial treatment is available.”
—Jolynn Tumolo
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