The Omega-3 Fatty Acid Paediatric Depression Trial

Summary

This study investigates the therapeutic efficacy and safety of omega-3 fatty acids rich in eicosapentaenoic acid / docosahexaenoic acid in pediatric depression in a nine months double-blind multi-centre study in 220 children and adolescents between 8 and 17 years of age. Inflammatory and bioactive lipid markers as predictors of response are evaluated. The relationship between omega-3 fatty acids with psychopathology, illness course and cognitive parameters will be further investigated.

Timeline

Start

2017-04-28

Primary completion

2022-03-24

Completion

2022-03-24

Publications

• Berger G, Haberling I, Emery S, Albermann M, Baumgartner N, Nalani K, Strumberger M, Wockel L, Erb S, Bachmann S, Muller-Knapp U, Contin-Waldvogel B, Yamini A, Rhiner B, Drechsler R, Held U, Reeve K, Heinz P, Pauli D, Schmeck K, Hersberger M, Walitza S; Omega-3 pMDD Study Group. omega-3 Fatty Acids in Pediatric Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2026 Jan 2;9(1):e2548703. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.48703.
• Preisig M, Haberling I, Smigielski L, Emery S, Baumgartner N, Albermann M, Strumberger M, Schmeck K, Wockel L, Erb S, Rhiner B, Contin-Waldvogel B, Walitza S, Berger G. The mediating role of depression in the association between health-related quality of life and suicidal ideation in adolescents: findings from a longitudinal study. Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 Aug 14;4:1567387. doi: 10.3389/frcha.2025.1567387. eCollection 2025.
• Haberling I, Preisig M, Emery S, Baumgartner N, Albermann M, Strumberger M, Schmeck K, Wockel L, Erb S, Rhiner B, Contin B, Walitza S, Berger G. Clinical characteristics of depressed children and adolescents with and without suicidal thoughts and behavior: a cross-sectional study. Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 Feb 21;4:1510961. doi: 10.3389/frcha.2025.1510961. eCollection 2025.
• Albermann M, Emery S, Baumgartner N, Strumberger M, Erb S, Wockel L, Muller-Knapp U, Rhiner B, Contin-Waldvogel B, Bachmann S, Schmeck K, Berger G; Omega-3 Study Team; Haberling I. Executive functions and borderline personality features in adolescents with major depressive disorder. Front Hum Neurosci. 2023 Jun 22;17:957753. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.957753. eCollection 2023.
• Haberling I, Berger G, Schmeck K, Held U, Walitza S. Omega-3 Fatty Acids as a Treatment for Pediatric Depression. A Phase III, 36 Weeks, Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Superiority Study. Front Psychiatry. 2019 Nov 27;10:863. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00863. eCollection 2019.

Drugs

Indications