Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder
Keywords: Depression Omega-3 Boston
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 196
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This study examines the difference in the effectiveness of two natural compounds, eicosapentanoic (EPA) and docosahexanoic (DHA)omega-3 fatty acids, in treating major depressive disorder. Both types of omega-3 fatty acids are commonly found in fish oils. It is believed that a deficiency in these omega-3 fatty acids may lead to the development of major depression.

Detailed description:
The study lasts for eight weeks and involves four visits after the screen and baseline visits (biweekly). Participants will be randomized, or chosen by chance, to enter into one of three groups. People in the first group will take 1 g/day or EPA omega-3 fatty acid, those in the second group will take 1 g/day of DHA omega-3 fatty acid, and those in the third group will take a placebo. This study is double-blind, which means that neither the participant, nor the doctor, nor the research staff will know which group each person is in. At the end of the study the participant will be offered three months of follow-up care at the Depression Clinical and Research Program.

Arms:
arm 1: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) Omega-3, 1g/day arm 2: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Omega-3, 1g/day arm 3: Placebo capsule (980mg soybean oil)

Interventions: intervention 1: eicosapentaenoic acid intervention 2: docosahexaenoic acid intervention 3: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 1 gram/day intervention 2: 1 gram/day intervention 3: 980 milligram/day

Protocol document: