RCT of omega-3 fatty acids as treatment of subthreshold symptoms in young people at ultra-high risk for

Omega-3脂肪是一种多不饱和脂肪，长期以来一直被认为对健康有益。人体不能自己制造欧米伽-3脂肪——它们必须通过饮食摄入，或以补充形式摄入。大量基于人群的研究表明，富含-3脂肪的饮食可以降低患心血管疾病的风险，降低血压，减少患前列腺癌和皮肤癌等癌症的风险。这种脂肪还被吹捧为治疗关节炎、哮喘和肠道炎症的药物。胎儿发育期间缺乏omega-3脂肪酸会阻碍大脑和眼睛的发育。其他研究表明，富含-3脂肪酸的饮食可能有助于改善心理健康。研究表明，在广泛的心理健康问题上，包括青少年的暴力和攻击行为、重度抑郁症、双相情感障碍、边缘型人格障碍和精神分裂症，它都有有益的影响。有证据表明，omega-3脂肪酸可以减轻精神分裂症和其他主要精神疾病的症状，这使得omega-3脂肪酸成为进一步评估其治疗效果的最佳候选者，特别是在精神病早期疾病阶段的年轻人中，由于潜在风险和药物副作用，具体干预存在争议。这项为期12周的干预研究旨在为具有阈下症状的高风险精神病年轻人建立一种新的治疗策略，以替代抗精神病药物。Omega-3脂肪酸没有临床相关的副作用，通常伴随抗精神病药物治疗（如糖尿病和体重增加）。一种广泛可用，易于应用，无临床相关副作用的生物治疗可以帮助改善精神病患者的依从性和预后。精神分裂症通常是长期的，并造成相当大的经济负担。早期治疗有可能抵消精神卫生提供者和这些服务的接受者未来的费用。

Omega-3 fats are a type of polyunsaturated fat which has long been thought to be beneficial for health. The body cannot make its own omega-3 fats - they must be taken in through the diet, or in supplement form. Large population-based studies have suggested that a diet rich in omega-3 fats can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, lower blood pressure, cut the risk of cancers such as prostate and skin. The fats have also been touted as a treatment for arthritis, asthma, and inflamed bowels. A lack of omega-3s during foetal development can hinder brain and eye development. Other work has suggested that a diet rich in omega-3 may help improve mental health. Studies revealed beneficial effects in a broad range of mental health problems including violent and aggressive behaviour in teenagers, major depression, bipolar affective disorder, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia. Evidence that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce symptoms in schizophrenia and other major psychiatric disorders make omega-3 fatty acids an optimal candidate for further evaluation of its therapeutic efficacy, in particular in young people in early illness stages of psychosis where specific intervention is controversial due to potential risks and medication side-effects. The proposed 12-week intervention study aims to establish a new treatment strategy alternative to antipsychotic medication in the young people with subthreshold symptoms at high risk for psychosis. Omega-3 fatty acids have no clinically relevant side effects which often accompany therapy with antipsychotics (such as diabetes and weight gain). A widely available, easy applicable, biological treatment without clinically relevant side effects could help to improve compliance and outcome in psychosis. Schizophrenia is often prolonged and results in a considerable economic burden. Early treatment has the potential to offset future costs to both mental health providers and the recipients of these services.