Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on offending behavior in repeat violent offenders : A Randomised Controlled Trial feasibility study

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Impulsivity; Violence; Self reported recidivism; Mental Health - Studies of normal psychology, cognitive function and behaviour; Mental Health - Other mental health disorders; Alternative and Complementary Medicine - Other alternative and complementary medicine

• Registration Number: ACTRN12616000220460
• Lead Sponsor: Hunter New England Mental Health Neuropsychiatry Service

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2016-02-18
• Last Update Posted: 13 January 2020

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

*Male
*Aged 18 years and over
*Prior conviction for at least two violent offences (e.g. manslaughter, robbery, assault)
*Minimum score of 70 on the Barratt Impulsivity Scale
*Medically fit
*Able to provide informed consent
*Fluent in English
*Willing to provide a sample of blood at the beginning and end of the study
*For the purposes of this study, violent crime is defined as per the Australian Standard Offence Classification and includes the following five categories: homicide (including manslaughter); acts intended to cause injury; dangerous and negligent acts endangering persons; abduction, harassment and other offences against the person; and robbery, extortion and related offences

Exclusion Criteria

*Allergy to seafood or iodine
*Current use of anti-coagulants and blood thinners
*Current use of systemic antibiotics or anti-inflammatories
*Unstable use of medication to modify mood, behaviour or serotonin levels
*Unwilling to provide a sample of blood at the beginning and end of the study
*Severe mental illness (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression)
*Considered to be at high risk of suicide
*Significant renal or hepatic impairment
*Anticipation of receiving a custodial sentence
*Impending deportation, moving interstate or to a remote area.
*Conviction for murder or child sex offences

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Adherence to using omega 3 supplementation in a community sample of impulsive, repeat-violent offenders.<br>Weeks (1,3, 9, ) Telephone Call: Omega 3 supplementation adherence, compliance issues.<br>Baseline, Weeks (6, 12) Face to face interviews, <br><br>Omega 3 index levels will be assessed after collecting a drop of blood via a finger prick kit. The dried blood spot will be analysed using commercial techniques at OmegaQuant, LLC U.S.A[Weeks (1,3,9,12)<br><br>Baseline, weeks 6, 12<br>]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Impulsivity<br>Assessed using Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-15)[Baseline, Weeks 6, 12];Anger<br>Assessed using: AIAQ - Anger, Irritability and Aggression Questionnaire, STAXI-2 - State Trait Anger Expression Inventory[Assessed: Baseline, Weeks 6, 12<br>];Depression<br>Assessed using Beck Depression Inventory, Kessler Psycholoical Distress Scale[Baseline, Weeks 6, 12];Irritability<br>Assessed by Anger, Irritability and Aggression Questionnaire (AIAQ)[Baseline, Weeks 6, 12];Self reported recidivism<br>Criminality Scale of the Opiate Treatment Index[Baseline, Week 12]