Indicated prevention with long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids in patients with 22q11DS genetically at high risk for psychosis. Protocol of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment trial

摘要

AimIt has been found that long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce the risk of progression to first episode of psychosis (FEP) and may offer a safe and efficacious strategy for selective and indicated prevention in young people with ultra-high-risk (UHR) states. An opportunity for exploring the trajectory of FEP and for investigating the efficacy of preventive treatments exists in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), which has a 30% psychotic transition rate. The fact that 22q11DS patients are more homogeneous than other UHR groups and are characterized by high level of negative symptoms provides a strong rationale for the use of PUFAs. The principal aim of the present trial is to investigate the effects of PUFAs in individuals with 22q11DS who are at UHR for developing FEP.