VIENNA, Austria—Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may help prevent the progressive development of psychotic disorders in adolescents, according to a new study out of the Medical University of Vienna (Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(2):146-154). The randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 81 adolescents and young adults (aged 13 to 25 years) with subthreshold psychosis at ultra-high risk of psychotic disorder. Subjects received 1.2 g/d of omega-3 PUFA or a placebo for 12 weeks, followed by a 40 week monitoring period.
A total of 76 participants completed the year-long intervention. A total of two individuals in the omega-3 group transitioned to psychotic disorder, compared to 11 in the placebo group. The difference between the groups in cumulative risk of progression to full-threshold psychosis was 22.6 percent. In addition, omega-3s reduced all symptoms of psychosis and improved functioning, with no side effects. The researchers concluded long-chain omega-3 PUFAs may offer a safe, efficacious method to prevent development of psychotic disorders in high-risk young people.