Omega 3 Fats May Be Helpful in Preventing Psychosis

Many studies have reported that consuming omega 3 fats are associated with significantly lower rates of depression in adults and autism in children. Now recent research has indicated that omega 3 fats may help reduce the risk of psychotic behavior in susceptible patients.  Psychotic behavior includes such unpleasant symptoms as hallucinations, irrational thinking and uncontrolled behavior.

An 12-month Austrian double-blind study examined the effects of omega 3 rich fish oil supplementation on psychotic symptoms in a group of 81 teenagers and young adults at high risk of psychotic behavior.  (A double-blind study is a study in which neither the researcher or the subjects know who is getting the active ingredient and who is getting the placebo).  Subjects were given capsules containing 1.2 grams of omega 3 fats in fish oil or a placebo containing olive oil daily. Over the 12 month period, only 2 of the 41 subjects given fish oil experienced psychotic behavior (4.9%), while 11 of 40 subjects in the placebo group experienced psychotic behavior (27.5%). These results are statistically very significant and suggest that omega 3 fats may play an important role in reducing risk of psychotic behavior. This study by Amminger et al is now in Press in the Archives of General Psychiatry

 Most US diets are low in omega 3 fats. The best sources of omega 3 fats are fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, herring), fish oil, flax seeds/ flax oil and evening primrose oil.  Soybean, walnut, pumpkin and canola seeds/oils also contain small amounts of omega 3 fats.