Omega-3 fatty acids for secondary prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder after accidental injury: an open-label pilot study
Matsuoka Y
Published in Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Methodology
Open-label single-arm pilot study of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation initiated after accidental injury; PTSD symptoms assessed with structured clinician-rated scales over 12 weeks.
Key Findings
In this open-label pilot, omega-3 supplementation started shortly after accidental injury was associated with lower PTSD symptom scores at follow-up than expected from the historical comparison, generating a hypothesis of secondary prevention.
Conclusions
Open-label pilot suggesting possible benefit; later superseded by a null randomized trial.
Limitations
No control group, tiny sample (n=15), open-label design prone to expectancy effects; a later randomized trial by the same group did not confirm benefit.
Supplements Studied
In this open-label pilot, omega-3 supplementation started shortly after accidental injury was associated with lower PTSD symptom scores at follow-up than expected from the historical comparison, generating a hypothesis of secondary prevention.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.