Omega-3 Fatty Acids as Adjunct Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder

Phase 2

Completed

Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder

Interventions: Drug: High Dose Fish Oil
Drug: Low Dose Fish Oil

Registration Number: NCT00511810

Lead Sponsor: University of Cincinnati

Brief Summary: The primary objective of the study was to determine the effects of 10-week adjunctive supplementation with 2 doses of LCn-3 fatty acids (fish oil) on cortical functional activity and biochemistry in adolescents with MDD.

The primary prediction was that LCn-3 fatty acid supplementation would dose-dependently increase prefrontal cortical functional activation during sustained attention and increase regional biochemical indices of cortical metabolism and integrity concentrations in association with reductions in depressive symptoms.

Detailed Description: This study is a 10-week open-label EPA+DHA treatment trial in adolescent (aged 12-18 years) patients with major depressive disorder exhibiting partial response to SSRI medications. After a screening visit, patients were randomized (stratified by gender) to open-label fish oil supplements at a fixed dose of either 2.4 g/day or 15 g/day (2 tablespoons/day) for 10 weeks.

A physical examination, a complete blood count (CBC), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were determined at baseline and Week 10, and vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, weight, height, body mass index, temperature) were obtained at each visit. At each visit, safety and tolerability were assessed using a structured side effect interview, the Side Effects Form for Children and Adolescents.

At baseline and all weekly visits, depression symptom severity was determined with the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R), a 17-item observer-rated questionnaire, and remission was defined as a CDRS-R score of ≥28. If a patient's depressive symptoms worsened over the course of the trial (defined as 30% worsening relative to baseline on two consecutive visits using CDRS-R scores), they were withdrawn from the study. In view of the potential risk for developing hypomanic symptoms following LCn-3 fatty acid supplementation, manic symptom severity was monitored over the course of the trial with the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), an 11-item observer-rated questionnaire.

fMRI scans were performed at baseline and at 10 weeks.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
High Dose Fish Oil	High Dose Fish Oil	Liquid omega-3 fatty acid 15 g/day (2 tablespoons/day)
Low Dose Fish Oil	Low Dose Fish Oil	Capsule omega-3 fatty acids 2.4g/day (4 capsules/day)

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mood Symptoms Ratings	10 weeks	Depression symptom severity was determined with the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R), which is a brief rating scale based on a semi-structured interview with the child. It is a 17-item observer-rated questionnaire where the 17 symptom areas are rated on a 6- or 7-point scale. Total score ranges from a low (not depressed) of 17 to a maximum (very depressed) of 108. Remission was defined as a CDRS-R score of \<28. (The total score is the sum of the ratings on each of the 17 items.)

Secondary Outcome Measures