Neurochemical Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Adolescents at Risk for Mania

Phase 2

Completed

Conditions: Mania

Interventions: Drug: Placebo
Drug: OMega 3

Registration Number: NCT00917501

Lead Sponsor: University of Cincinnati

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to see if taking a substance called omega-3 fatty acids is effective, safe, and well-tolerated for treating adolescents with major depressive disorder (also called simply "depression" or "clinical depression"). Another purpose of this study is to see how much omega-3 fatty acids are in a patient's blood and if that makes the patient more or less likely to develop mania (i.e. periods of irritability or extreme silliness accompanied by decreased need for sleep, risky behaviors, feeling like the patient has special abilities, inability to sit still, and rapid speech) in the future. Yet another purpose of this study is to see how taking omega-3 fatty acids affect brain scans. Omega-3 fatty acids are not United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to treat depression in adults or in children and adolescents.

Omega-3 fatty acids can only be obtained through diet, most often from fish and other sea foods, though they are also found in other food sources such as flax seed. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to play a role in affecting brain chemicals responsible for regulating mood and have been found to reduce symptoms of depression in medicated-patients with major depressive disorder.

By completing this study, the investigators hope to better understand who benefits from treatment, why they do or do not respond to medications, and who is at greater risk for developing further mental illness. With this information, the investigators hope to be able to improve treatment and outcome in people with major depressive disorder.

Detailed Description: A. Specific Aims: (1) To collect pilot data regarding the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for the treatment of adolescents with active depressive symptoms and a high risk for developing mania (i.e. the patient has a bipolar parent and meet DSM-IV-TR criteria for major depressive disorder). (2) To use proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) (i.e. prefrontal neurochemistry) and red blood cell (RBC) omega-3 fatty acid levels to examine potential mediators of treatment response to omega-3 fatty acids in adolescents with a high risk for mania.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 55

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Placebo	Placebo to the Omega-3 given in other group taken twice a day.
Omega 3	OMega 3	Individual omega-3 capsules contain 400 mg EPA and 200 mg DHA \& will be taken twice a day.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change From Baseline in Depression Symptom Severity at 12 Weeks	Baseline and 12 weeks	Change in Children's Depression Rating Scale-revised (CDRS-R) Total Score from Baseline to 12 weeks CDRS-R score ranges from 17 (i.e., not depressed) to 113 (i.e., severe depression)

Secondary Outcome Measures