| Fish oil in treatment of psychosis is a hot new | | | | Another study done on subjects with major |
| research topic. | | | | depressive disorders published in the American Journal |
| Many scientists are very impressed by what they're | | | | of Psychiatry concluded that, "Highly significant benefits |
| discovering. And you're going to be excited too. | | | | of the addition of the omega-3 fatty acid compared |
| Medline Plus online encyclopedia defines psychosis as | | | | with placebo were found by week 3 of treatment." |
| a "loss of contact with reality. This typically includes | | | | (Vol. 159:477-479) |
| delusions (false ideas about what's taking place or | | | | Translation: fish oil provides huge health benefits in just |
| who one is) and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things | | | | 3 weeks. |
| which aren't there)." | | | | A study at Harvard University published in the |
| Included in the general definition of psychosis are | | | | Archives of General Psychiatry found, "Omega 3 fatty |
| bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, dementia, | | | | acids were well tolerated and improved the short-term |
| hallucinations, extreme excitement, unfounded fears, | | | | course of illness in this preliminary study of patients |
| abnormal emotions, illusions, delusions and confusion. | | | | with bipolar disorder." (Vol. 56 No. 5) |
| If some of these descriptions hit home for you, don't | | | | Translation: Bipolar disorder patients taking fish oil |
| run out for a diagnosis just yet. Remember that | | | | improved. |
| psychosis is consistent and often has some chronic | | | | More research reported in the American Journal of |
| expression. | | | | Psychiatry, concluded, "The results of this study |
| Psychosis can be brought on by illegal or prescription | | | | suggest that EPA may be a safe and effective form |
| drugs, excess alcohol or anything else that causes the | | | | of monotherapy for women with moderately severe |
| brain to function incorrectly, such as a stroke or | | | | borderline personality disorder." (Vol. 160:167-169) |
| Alzheimer's Disease. | | | | Translation: Fish oil helps women with severe |
| Some people think nutrition has nothing to do with | | | | personality disorder. |
| psychosis. But that's like saying you could live on junk | | | | Researchers in the psychiatry department at the UK |
| food and still have a long happy healthy life. And we all | | | | University of Sheffield reported in the Journal of |
| know that's not possible. | | | | Affective Disorders that, "The findings [of their study] |
| So, what does the research say? | | | | raise the possibility that depressive symptoms may be |
| Recent and on-going scientific studies have found | | | | alleviated by omega 3 PUFA [polyunsaturated fatty |
| major health benefits with fish oil in treatment of | | | | acid] supplementation." (Vol. 48(2-3):149-55) |
| psychosis, including bipolar and depression. Here are | | | | Translation: Good quality fish oil supplements work for |
| just a few of those findings. | | | | depression. |
| Research reported in the Journal of Affective | | | | That's the overview - short, sweet and to the point. |
| Disorders found that, "Major depressed subjects | | | | This research should make your decision about fish oil |
| showed significantly lower total omega 3 | | | | treatment of psychosis or even minor depression an |
| polyunsaturated fatty acids...than minor depressed | | | | easy one. |
| subjects and healthy controls." (Vol. 26, No. 38, 35-46) | | | | The fish oil health benefits speak for themselves - |
| Translation: more dietary fish oil fatty acids equals less | | | | naturally. |
| depression. | | | | |