Randomized, placebo-controlled study of ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid as supplemental treatment in schizophrenia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid (E-EPA) as add-on treatment in chronic, severe schizophrenia.

METHOD:

A randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose, add-on study was conducted over 12 weeks. Forty patients with persistent symptoms after at least 6 months of stable antipsychotic treatment received E-EPA or placebo, in addition to their existing treatment.

RESULTS:

At 12 weeks, the E-EPA group had significantly greater reduction of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total scores and of dyskinesia scores than the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS:

EPA may be an effective and well-tolerated add-on treatment in schizophrenia.

• Authors: Robin Emsley, Christo Myburgh, Pieter Oosthuizen, Susan J van Rensburg
• Journal: The American journal of psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry) Vol. 159 Issue 9 Pg. 1596-8 (Sep 2002) ISSN: 0002-953X [Print] United States
• PMID: 12202284 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Placebos
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antipsychotic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Chronic Disease
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Placebos
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Schizophrenia (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Treatment Outcome