IngentaConnect An open trial of Omega-3 fatty acids for depression in pregnancy

Authors: Freeman, Marlene P.; Hibbeln, Joseph R.¹; Wisner, Katherine L.²; Watchman, Marcy; Gelenberg, Alan J.³

Source: Acta Neuropsychiatrica, Volume 18, Number 1, February 2006 , pp. 21-24(4)

Abstract:

Freeman MP, Hibbeln JR, Wisner KL, Watchman M, Gelenberg AJ. An open trial of Omega-3 fatty acids for depression in pregnancy. Objective:

In this flexible-dose, open-label trial, we examined the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids for the treatment of depression during pregnancy. Methods:

Fifteen pregnant women with major depressive episodes participated. Subjects initially received two capsules per day [0.93 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)]; the dose could be increased by one capsule per day every 2 weeks to a maximal dose of 2.8 g. Subjects were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Results:

Average duration of participation in this treatment trial was 8.3 weeks (SD ± 7.1). Average final dose of EPA + DHA in this flexible dose trial was 1.9 g per day (±0.5). The mean reduction in EPDS scores was 40.9% (SD ± 21.9); the mean decrease in HRSD score was 34.1% (SD ± 27.1). Conclusions:

This open trial provides data to support the need for randomized controlled dose-finding trials of omega-3 fatty acids in major depressive episodes during pregnancy.

Keywords: fatty acids; mood disorders; nutrition; Omega-3; postpartum; pregnancy; unipolar depression

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.0924-2708.2006.00113.x

Affiliations: 1: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA; and 2: Department of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 3: Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA;

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