Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999 May;56(5):407-12.Click here to read Links
Comment in:
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999 May;56(5):413-4; discussion 415-6.
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000 Jul;57(7):715.
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000 Jul;57(7):716-7.
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2001 May;58(5):512-3.

Omega 3 fatty acids in bipolar disorder: a preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Stoll AL, Severus WE, Freeman MP, Rueter S, Zboyan HA, Diamond E, Cress KK, Marangell LB.

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass, USA. alstoll@mclean.harvard.edu

BACKGROUND: Omega3 fatty acids may inhibit neuronal signal transduction pathways in a manner similar to that of lithium carbonate and valproate, 2 effective treatments for bipolar disorder. The present study was performed to examine whether omega3 fatty acids also exhibit mood-stabilizing properties in bipolar disorder. METHODS: A 4-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, comparing omega3 fatty acids (9.6 g/d) vs placebo (olive oil), in addition to usual treatment, in 30 patients with bipolar disorder. RESULTS: A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the cohort found that the omega3 fatty acid patient group had a significantly longer period of remission than the placebo group (P = .002; Mantel-Cox). In addition, for nearly every other outcome measure, the omega3 fatty acid group performed better than the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Omega3 fatty acids were well tolerated and improved the short-term course of illness in this preliminary study of patients with bipolar disorder.

PMID: 10232294 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Patient Drug Information

  • Lithium (Eskalith CR® , Eskalith® , Lithobid® )

    Lithium is used to treat and prevent episodes of mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood) in people with bipolar disorder (manic depressive disorder; a disease that causes episodes of depression, episodes of mania, and ...

  • Carbamazepine (Carbatrol® , Epitol® , Equetro® , ...)

    Carbamazepine is used alone or in combination with other medications to control certain types of seizures. It is also used to treat trigeminal neuralgia (a condition that causes facial nerve pain). Carbamazepine extended...

  • Valproic Acid (Depakene® , Depakote® , Depakote® ER, ...)

    Valproic acid is used alone or with other medications to treat certain types of seizures. Valproic acid is also used to treat mania (episodes of frenzied, abnormally excited mood) in people with bipolar disorder (manic-d...

  • Source: AHFS Consumer Medication Information