A randomised controlled trial of fish oil for treatment of aggressive behaviour in young people

A randomised controlled trial of fish oil capsules compared to placebo capsules for the treatment of overt aggression in children and adolescents with disruptive behaviour disorders

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12608000477325

Enrollment

Registered

2008-09-25

Start date

2008-09-25

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

Aggressive behaviours are common issues in young people accessing mental health services. Fish oils are popular treatments and are sometimes marketed for behavioural problems. However, no research has specifically examined fish oils for aggressive behaviour in young people. This study will examine whether fish oil is able to reduce the frequency and severity of aggressive behaviour in children and adolescents.

Interventions

Fish oil oral capsules - 4 grams fish oil daily, containing a total of 400mg Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and 2000mg Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), for 6 weeks continuous treatment

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Blinded (masking used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

6 Years to 17 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Presence of overt aggressive behaviours 2. Diagnosis of one of the disruptive behaviour disorders (Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder) 3. Under 18 years of age

Exclusion criteria

1. Over 17 years of age 2. Diagnosis of any of the following: autism or other developmental disorder; mental retardation; schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder or substance use disorder

Outcome results