PALM BEACH February 25, 2012 – A researcher with Massachusetts General Hospital’s renowned psychiatric department says some complementary or alternative treatments can provide a boost for those experiencing depression or other mood disorders, but cautions that more research into them is needed.
“There are a lot of things out there. It’s ‘buyer beware,’” said Dr. Marlene Freeman, director of clinical services for MGH’s perinatal and reproductive psychiatry program.
Still, Freeman said some alternative treatments show promise as tools to battle depression.
In studies examining their use as an add-on treatment, omega-3 fatty acids from fish appear to increase the antidepressive response in major depression and bipolar depression, Freeman said Thursday during the sixth annual seminar hosted by the hospital’s Leadership Council for Psychiatry. The event was held at the Palm Beach home of Howard and Michele Kessler.
Freeman and Dr. Maurizio Fava, vice chairman of Mass General’s psychiatry department, helped develop a 2010 American Psychiatric Association Task Force report that examined randomized controlled trials for common alternative medications, including omega-3 fatty acids, St. John’s wort, folate and other treatments.
“Most of the data we have so far suggests there is an additional response of adding omega-3 fatty acids to someone’s antidepressant medication regiment. What’s really exciting about omega-3 fatty acids in the study of pregnancy and post-partum is babies need omega-3 fatty acids for optimal neurocognitive development. So unlike medication where we kind of wring our hands and weigh the risks and benefits of medication, we want babies to be exposed to omega-3 fatty acids,” Freeman said. She encouraged the audience to visit the website for MGH’s women’s mental health center, WomensMentalHealth.org.
The APA task force recommends that people eat fish a couple of times a week, she said.
Those with a mood disorder may consider an omega-3 supplement, Freeman said. “Generally between 1 [and] 2 grams a day has been recommended and appears to be the optimum dose for mood disorders,” she said.
Read the full article at the Palm Beach Daily News.