TY - JOUR
T1 - Omega-3 fatty acids and supportive psychotherapy for perinatal depression
T2 - A randomized placebo-controlled study
AU - Freeman, Marlene P.
AU - Davis, Melinda
AU - Sinha, Priti
AU - Wisner, Katherine L.
AU - Hibbeln, Joseph R.
AU - Gelenberg, Alan J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health K23MH066265 (Dr. Freeman), Pronova/EPAX provided study drug and placebo at no cost. The decision to include a psychotherapy intervention was collaboratively made between investigators with input from the NIMH program officer Dr. Enid Light. NIMH had no further role in collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, and in the decision to submit the paper for publication. Pronova/EPAX had no role in study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
PY - 2008/9
Y1 - 2008/9
N2 - Background: Perinatal major depressive disorder (MDD), including antenatal and postpartum depression, is common and has serious consequences. This study was designed to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids for perinatal depression in addition to supportive psychotherapy. Methods: Perinatal women with MDD were randomized to eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA), 1.9g/day, or placebo for 8weeks. A manualized supportive psychotherapy was provided to all subjects. Symptoms were assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) biweekly. Results: Fifty-nine women enrolled; N = 51 had two data collection points that allowed for evaluation of efficacy. Omega-3 fatty acids were well tolerated. Participants in both groups experienced significant decreases in EPDS and HAM-D scores (p < .0001) from baseline. We did not find a benefit of omega-3 fatty acids over placebo. Dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake was low among participants. Limitations: The ability to detect an effect of omega-3 fatty acids may have been limited by sample size, study length, or dose. The benefits of supportive psychotherapy may have limited the ability to detect an effect of omega-3 fatty acids. Conclusions: There was no significant difference between omega-3 fatty acids and placebo in this study in which all participants received supportive psychotherapy. The manualized supportive psychotherapy warrants further study. The low intake of dietary omega-3 fatty acids among participants is of concern, in consideration of the widely established health advantages in utero and in infants.
AB - Background: Perinatal major depressive disorder (MDD), including antenatal and postpartum depression, is common and has serious consequences. This study was designed to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids for perinatal depression in addition to supportive psychotherapy. Methods: Perinatal women with MDD were randomized to eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA), 1.9g/day, or placebo for 8weeks. A manualized supportive psychotherapy was provided to all subjects. Symptoms were assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) biweekly. Results: Fifty-nine women enrolled; N = 51 had two data collection points that allowed for evaluation of efficacy. Omega-3 fatty acids were well tolerated. Participants in both groups experienced significant decreases in EPDS and HAM-D scores (p < .0001) from baseline. We did not find a benefit of omega-3 fatty acids over placebo. Dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake was low among participants. Limitations: The ability to detect an effect of omega-3 fatty acids may have been limited by sample size, study length, or dose. The benefits of supportive psychotherapy may have limited the ability to detect an effect of omega-3 fatty acids. Conclusions: There was no significant difference between omega-3 fatty acids and placebo in this study in which all participants received supportive psychotherapy. The manualized supportive psychotherapy warrants further study. The low intake of dietary omega-3 fatty acids among participants is of concern, in consideration of the widely established health advantages in utero and in infants.
KW - Depression
KW - Omega-3
KW - Perinatal
KW - Postpartum
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Supportive psychotherapy
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2007.12.228
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2007.12.228
M3 - Article
C2 - 18206247
AN - SCOPUS:44849122926
VL - 110
SP - 142
EP - 148
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
SN - 0165-0327
IS - 1-2
ER -