Annotated References
     
      

Patients maintaining their customary medications plus supplemental omega-3 fats continued for significantly longer periods of time without need for a change to a new treatment mode. For nearly every outcome measure, the omega-3 group performed better than the placebo group. Omega 3 fatty acids in bipolar disorder: a preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Stoll AL; Severus WE; Freeman MP; Rueter S; Zboyan HA; Diamond E; Cress KK; Marangell LB Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999; 56(5): 407-412

      Polyunsaturated fatty acids predicted both CSF 5?HIAA and CSF HVA concentrations in 49 healthy volunteers, 88 early?, and 39 late?onset alcoholics. The relationships between plasma 22: 6n3 and CSF 5?HIAA were significantly different when healthy volunteers (r =.35) were compared to early?onset alcoholics (r = ?.38) (p <.0002). Dietary studies are indicated to determine if essential fatty acid supplementation can influence central nervous system serotonin and dopamine metabolism and modify impulsive behaviors related to these neurotransmitters. %Hibbeln JR; Linnoila M; Umhau JC; Rawlings R; George DT; Salem N. Essential fatty acids predict metabolites of serotonin and dopamine in cerebrospinal fluid among healthy control subjects, and early? and late?onset alcoholics. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY 1998; 44: 235?242.

Roy A, Virkkunen M, Linnoila M: Serotonin in suicide, violence, and alcoholism. Prog Neuro-Psychopharmacol Biol Psychiatr 1987; 11: 173-177.

Bipolar disorder most commonly is diagnosed in persons between 18 and 24 years of age. The clinical presentations of this disorder are broad and include mania, hypomania and psychosis. Frequently associated comorbid conditions include substance abuse and anxiety disorders. - Griswold KS, Pessar LF, Management of Bipolar Disorder. Am Fam Physician 2000;62:1343-53, 1357-8. See: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000915/1343.html