A clinical research study at ETSU’s James H. Quillen College of Medicine aims to determine if a popular natural supplement could be effective in treating depression in teenagers.
The supplement is fish oil, an omega-3 fatty acid. Dr. Andres Pumariega, professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and director of child and adolescent psychiatry, says recent studies have shown that omega-3 can be beneficial for adults with depression as an additive to antidepressants. At the same time, a number of concerns have risen about the use of antidepressants with children and teens.
“We are looking at fish oil as an augmentation agent, used in combination with an antidepressant, rather as a stand-alone treatment,” Pumariega said. “Our hypothesis is that omega-3 serves as a mood stabilizer and is especially helpful to patients who are taking medication for depression but still not seeing the complete benefit. Omega-3 fatty acids have the potential to reduce the dose of antidepressant required for teens and possibly reduce side effects, particularly transient suicidal ideation.”
Pumariega said teenagers across the region are being recruited for this study. To be eligible, subjects must be between the ages of 12-17 and receiving a single antidepressant for depression but not fully responding to this treatment. Those selected for the study will be given softgel capsules of omega-3 or a placebo to take for approximately eight weeks. There will be a series of required follow-up visits.
In addition, subjects will be asked to have their finger pricked so that researchers can collect a few drops of blood to determine if genetic markers found in adults with depression are also found in adolescents with this same illness.
Yasoo Health, a vitamin E research and development company headquartered in the ETSU Innovation Laboratory, is partnering with ETSU in this study and will be donating the omega-3 capsules.
Joining Pumariega in this research are Dr. Gus Papas, medical director of Yasoo Health, and ETSU’s Dr. Margaret Shugart, residency program director for Psychiatry; Dr. Terry Clark, assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry; Dr. Merry Miller, professor and chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Dr. Barney Miller, associate professor of Psychiatry and Anatomy and Cell Biology; Dr. Ranjay Hadler, resident physician in Psychiatry; and Udema Millsaps, research assistant and adjunct faculty in the Department of Mathematics.
Participants who complete the study will receive $60, payable as they participate.
For more information, call 439-2227 or 439-8010. All calls are confidential.

Author