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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008 Sep;110(1-2):142-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2007.12.228. Epub 2008 Feb 21.

Omega-3 fatty acids and supportive psychotherapy for perinatal depression: a randomized placebo-controlled study

Marlene P Freeman  1 , Melinda Davis, Priti Sinha, Katherine L Wisner, Joseph R Hibbeln, Alan J Gelenberg
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Omega-3 fatty acids and supportive psychotherapy for perinatal depression: a randomized placebo-controlled study

Marlene P Freeman et al. J Affect Disord. 2008 Sep.

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.

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