Abstract
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.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 142-148 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Affective Disorders |
| Volume | 110 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2008 |
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Keywords
- Depression
- Omega-3
- Perinatal
- Postpartum
- Pregnancy
- Supportive psychotherapy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Biological Psychiatry
- Neurology
- Psychology(all)
Cite this
Omega-3 fatty acids and supportive psychotherapy for perinatal depression : A randomized placebo-controlled study. / Freeman, Marlene P.; Davis, Melinda F; Sinha, Priti; Wisner, Katherine L.; Hibbeln, Joseph R.; Gelenberg, Alan J.
In: Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol. 110, No. 1-2, 09.2008, p. 142-148.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
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 F
AU - Sinha, Priti
AU - Wisner, Katherine L.
AU - Hibbeln, Joseph R.
AU - Gelenberg, Alan J.
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
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=44849122926&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=44849122926&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2007.12.228
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2007.12.228
M3 - Article
VL - 110
SP - 142
EP - 148
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
SN - 0165-0327
IS - 1-2
ER -