Omega-3 fights psychosis

Taking inexpensive omega-3 supplements stops people at high risk of psychosis from developing it for seven years, a study shows.

Research showing that this natural substance, found in fish oils, can prevent psychosis, was presented yesterday at the International Early Psychosis Conference, in Tokyo, Japan.

Psychosis refers to the mental condition of being out of touch with reality.

This study was done by Paul Amminger and Patrick McGorry of the University of Melbourne and Monika Schlögelhofer, of the Medical University of Vienna.

The research subjects were people considered to be at high risk of psychosis and who had an existing mental disorder.

Forty percent of the patients given a placebo became psychotic, and did so more quickly than the 10% of those who were given fish-oil supplement.

Ammiger said the study was significant because it seemed to show that using a natural substance - which is easily tolerated by the body - could act as an alternative to anti-psychosis drugs.

Levels of omega-3 fatty acids in cell membranes have been found to be relatively low in people with schizophrenia, a severe form of psychosis.

It is thought the fatty acids interact with serotonin and dopamine, which affect mood, including happiness and anxiety, in the brain.

Researchers are awaiting the results of two larger studies, due out late in March, before making recommendations on the efficacy of omega-3 in preventing the transition to psychosis.