OBJECTIVES: This research aims to study the effect of omega-3 fatty acid as an adjunct to pharmacologic treatment for major depressive disorder occurring in-out patients aged 18-65 years old in a private tertiary hospital of Metro Manila who will receive pharmacologic maintenance antidepressant therapy. With the knowledge that this is a pilot study for Filipinos, the endpoint will be geared towards determining the feasibility of actually prescribing a dietary supplement in the form of omega-3 to further improve the depressive condition of our patients.
METHODOLOGY: Patients with a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder, based on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of 14-18 or more, which is considered as moderate depression were observed for 4 weeks. The study design was a 4-week, double-blind addition of omega-3 or placebo to ongoing antidepressant therapy. Patients were required to continue their current antidepressant treatment at the same dose they were receiving when they entered the study. Patients were required to continue their current antidepressant treatment at the same dose they were receiving when they entered the study. Patients who were included in the study had been receiving their antidepressant medication for at least three weeks at the therapeutic dose.
RESULTS: Twenty-four patients participated. Eighteen were women, and six were men. Their mean age was 39.7 (range=18-63). The mean reduction of HAM-D scale score in patients taking omega-3 was 12.17 points, compared with 9.58 in patients receiving placebo.
CONCLUSION: This comparison in the reduction of scores was insignificant. There was no observable significant trends toward the superiority of omega-3 supplements over placebo in reducing depressive symptoms.