Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

In brief

An increasing literature shows that omega-3 fatty acids provide numerous health benefits, including a variety of psychiatric symptoms and disorders including stress, anxiety, cognitive impairment, mood disorders (major depression and bipolar disorder) and schizophrenia. Omega-3 fatty acids may additionally represent a promising treatment strategy in patients with PTSD. Moreover, given its beneficial cardiovascular effects, adjunctive omega-3 fatty acids may also benefit the general health status of these veterans, who frequently present with a variety of comorbid medical disorders.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00644423

Run by

Durham VA Medical Center

People needed

18

Starts

2008-09-22

Expected to finish

2010-07-15

Last updated by the study team

2019-08-20

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Veterans 18-65 years of age, any ethnic group, either sex.
• Ability to participate fully in the informed consent process.
• Current diagnosis of PTSD .
• No anticipated need to alter medications for the 10-week duration of the study.

You may not qualify if…

• Serious unstable medical illness, history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with loss of consciousness greater than 30 minutes, or history of cerebrovascular accident, prostate or breast cancer.
• Current active suicidal and/or homicidal ideation, intent or plan.
• Use of aspirin, warfarin or other anticoagulant therapy, as omega-3 fatty acids may increase bleeding time. Other concomitant medications for medical conditions will be addressed on a case-by-case base and determined if exclusionary.
• Regular use of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation within the last 3 months (cod liver oil, other fish oil, flaxseed).
• Regular consumption of more than one serving of fatty fish per week.
• Substance dependence within the last 4 weeks (other than nicotine dependence).
• Current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, or cognitive disorder due to a general medical condition other than TBI.
• Female patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Known allergy to study medication.

Where it is running

• Durham VA Medical Center — Durham, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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