Longer-term outcome in the prevention of psychotic disorders by the Vienna omega-3 study
G. Paul Amminger1, Miriam R. Scha ̈fer1, Monika Schlo ̈gelhofer2, Claudia M. Klier3& Patrick D. McGorry1
Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential for neural develop-ment and function. As key components of brain tissue, omega-3 PUFAs play critical roles inbrain development and function, and a lack of these fatty acids has been implicated in anumber of mental health conditions over the lifespan, including schizophrenia. We havepreviously shown that a 12-week intervention with omega-3 PUFAs reduced the risk ofprogression to psychotic disorder in young people with subthreshold psychotic states for a12-month period compared with placebo. We have now completed a longer-term follow-up ofthis randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, at a median of 6.7 years. Here weshow that brief intervention with omega-3 PUFAs reduced both the risk of progression topsychotic disorder and psychiatric morbidity in general in this study. The majority of theindividuals from the omega-3 group did not show severe functional impairment and no longerexperienced attenuated psychotic symptoms at follow-up.