omega-3 fatty acids as an adjunctive therapy for stimulants in children with adhd

Conditions: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Summary: multiple forms of omega-3 fatty acids have been used to investigate the role of this food supplement in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd). no clear evidence for their role in this disorder is yet available. we will conduct a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial to obtain significant results regarding this question.

a total of 30-150 patients or more between the ages of 6 and 15 years old with diagnosis of adhd according to the dsm-iv and on current treatment with stimulants recruited from caos-mmc and the developmental center will be evaluated by a child psychiatrist or a resident under supervision of a child psychiatrist to make sure that the diagnosis is correct. every child will have a conners rating scale filled out by the parents and teachers on admission to the study. the evaluators will also fill out a clinical global impression scale (cgi). the patients will be divided in 2 groups. one group of 15 children will be randomized to continue taking the usual dose of stimulants plus placebo (corn oil), which will be given to the patients by mmc's pharmacy. a second group of 15 patients will be randomized to receive the usual dose of stimulant plus lovaza (prescription omega-3 fatty acids) at a dose of 1800 mg daily. both groups will be initially treated for a period of 8 weeks. the patients will be re-evaluated by the investigators on week 2, 4, 6 and 8 of the study and on each evaluation the parents and teachers will fill out a conners rating scale. the ratings of the conners rating scales filled for each patient will be analyzed and compared to the initial evaluation after week 8. the evaluators will also do a cgi score for every visit. patients that improve will be taken off the stimulants and will continue further treatment with the adjunctive therapy for a total of 4 more weeks, during this period of time they will be re-evaluated on weeks 9, 10 and 12 and conners scales will also be filled out by the parents. patients who do not improve will be switched to the opposite treatment modality and will be evaluated on weeks 9, 10 and 12 also having conners scales filled out by their parents. if any of the patients in this group improve after the switch, they will be taken off stimulants and they will be evaluated on weeks 13, 14 and 16 of the study arm. the study will be supported by glaxosmithkline. this pharmaceutical company will provide the capsules and the placebo.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * male and female children 6 to 15 years old * diagnosis of adhd according to the dsm iv -tr exclusion criteria: * children younger than 6 y/o or older than 15 y/o * children with other co-morbid disorders according to the dsm iv-tr * mentally retarded children * poor compliance with treatment * children with a diagnosis of blood clotting problems * children on anticoagulants * children with hypersensitivity to fish * children "in care" (cic): foster children or children that are not being taken care of by a biological parent or a legal guardian. * children who follow a kosher diet (lovaza is not kosher) * pregnancy

Keywords: adhd omega- 3 fatty acids cgi conners rating scale stimulants