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Past research has shown that omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) are very helpful in recovery of mental disorders.

Recent research published in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry discovered that people at extremely high risk of developing a psychosis were found to be less likely to develop psychotic disorders after just 12 weeks of taking an omega-3 supplement.

Below is a summary of the study:

Objective: To determine whether omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce the rate of progression to first-episode psychotic disorder in adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 25 years with subthreshold psychosis.

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted between 2004 and 2007.

Setting: Psychosis detection unit of a large public hospital in Vienna, Austria.

Participants: Eighty-one individuals at ultra-high risk of psychotic disorder.

Interventions: A 12-week intervention period of omega-3 PUFA or placebo was followed by a 40-week monitoring period; the total study period was 12 months.

Results: The difference between the groups in the cumulative risk of progression to full-threshold psychosis was 22.6% . Polyunsaturated fatty acids also significantly reduced positive symptoms, negative symptoms, general symptoms and improved functioning compared with a placebo. There were no negative side effects.

Conclusions: omega-3 PUFAs reduce the risk of progression to psychotic disorder and may offer a safe and efficacious strategy for indicated prevention in young people with subthreshold psychotic states.

More information about the research: http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org