July 26, 2020
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil, are an up and coming complementary medicine. Supplements are already widely available, but the evidence for its effectiveness and safety are still growing. Over the last few decades, scientists have considered whether omega-3 is a viable treatment option for mood disorders like depression and bipolar spectrum disorder. With cautious success, researchers have broadened their scope into borderline personality disorder.
Borderline personality disorder is a mental disorder. People with this disorder have unstable relationships and extreme mood changes, such as sudden shifts to anger or sadness. They sometimes do things that seem extreme and can even be violent. Plus, they act without thinking about the consequences.
To determine if omega-3 could improve symptoms of borderline personality disorder, researchers recruited 30 patients for an 8-week trial. They treated 20 participants with omega-3 and 10 participants with an alternative. All the subjects were women and had similar demographic characteristics and treatment histories.
Symptom improvement was measured with two standardized scales that are commonly used for borderline patients. One scale rates a patients aggression throughout the week, which is a frequent symptom among borderline patients. The other ranks depressive symptoms like sadness, inner tension, pessimism, and suicidal thoughts. Subjects given omega-3 saw a greater decrease in aggression and depression scores by the end of the trial.
This sample was small and only included women, which means the results can not be generalized to an entire population. However, it does begin painting a picture of how omega-3 may benefit borderline patients.
Omega-3 is used to treat symptoms, not a particular disease. This can be both positive and negative in mental health care.. By only treating symptoms, omega-3 is not targeting the root causes of a disease and therefore cannot be a cure. On the other hand, omega-3 can be used to treat a variety of mental health disorders that exhibit aggressive and depressive symptoms, not just borderline personality disorder. For example, antidepressants on the market today are prescribed for an array of individuals with different diagnoses. If omega-3 can be used in a similar manner, it has the potential to help a lot of people.