Here’s some news from the world of alternative treatments for psychiatric symptoms . . . but then, how alternative is something that’s reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry?
We all know that exercise and omega-3 fatty acids are good for our bodies ‘below the neck,’ right? (To quote the American Heart Association’s website, “Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people, and those at high risk of — or who have — cardiovascular disease,” and, “Whether it’s included in a structured exercise program or part of your daily routine, all physical activity adds up to a healthier heart.”) Now we have even more evidence that they’re also good for our brains and our minds.
- “Hippocampal Plasticity in Response to Exercise in Schizophrenia” describes a three-month-long randomized, controlled study of aerobic exercise (cycling) in which the volume of the hippocampus (the part of the brain associated most with memory) and aerobic fitness increased in both patients with schizophrenia and in healthy controls, and improvement in short-term memory was correlated with increased hippocampal volume in the group of people with schizophrenia.
- “Long–Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Indicated Prevention of Psychotic Disorders” reports on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 81 individuals at “ultra-high risk of psychotic disorder.” At the end of the 12-month study, 2 of the 41 (4.9%) individuals in the group receiving omega-3 fatty acids had developed a psychotic disorder, while 11 of 40 (27.5%) in the placebo group had developed such a disorder. Omega-3 fatty acids also significantly reduced positive and negative symptoms and improved functioning, compared with placebo.
Check out the abstracts (links above in blue) and tell me what you think!
