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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

Marlene P. Freeman ,
Joseph R. Hibbeln ,
Katherine L. Wisner ,
Marcy Watchman  and
Alan J. Gelenberg
Marlene P. Freeman*
Affiliation:
Women's Mental Health Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
Joseph R. Hibbeln
Affiliation:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA
Katherine L. Wisner
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Marcy Watchman
Affiliation:
Women's Mental Health Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
Alan J. Gelenberg
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
*
Marlene P. Freeman, Women's Mental Health Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, PO Box 245002, Tucson, AZ 85724-5002, USA. Tel: +1 520 626 6509; Fax: +1 520 626 6050; E-mail: marlenef@email.arizona.edu
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Abstract

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 acidsmood disordersnutritionOmega-3postpartumpregnancyunipolar depression
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , February 2006 , pp. 21 - 24
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 Blackwell Munksgaard

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