Investigation of Psychophysiological Response to Aversive Stimuli Over Time With Omega-3

Yale-NUS College133 enrolled

Overview

This study investigates the psychophysiological responses to aversive stimuli in a population of 133 children clinically diagnosed with conduct disorder (CD) and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants were administered with either omega-3 or placebo for a period of 6 months and were exposed to three stimuli every three months: 1) a loud sound, 2) threatening photographs from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), and 3) the Trier Social Stress Task (TSST). Participants' psychophysiological features of heart rate and galvanic skin conductance were measured and analyzed in relation to their omega-3/placebo condition clinical diagnosis.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

133

Conditions

Conduct Disorder ADHD Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Interventions

Omega-3DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Omega-3 supplement is a highly concentrated fish oil brain booster supplement that helps compensate for the neurocognitive and brain dysfunction which acts as a predisposition to antisocial and violent behaviour. Individuals with antisocial personality disorder have been found to show an 11% reduction in gray matter in the prefrontal cortex (Raine et al. 2001), and structural prefrontal impairments are hypothesised to result in disinhibition of limbic subcortical structures that give rise to aggressive behaviour. Omega-3 (specifically DHA) is known to play a key role in neuronal structure and function.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 7 YearsMax age: 16 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects between ages 7 and 16 years 2. Subjects who fulfil all criteria for a DSM-IV diagnosis of ADHD, conduct disorder, or oppositional defiant disorder 3. Subjects with willingness to participate in a randomized, double-blind controlled trial 4. Subjects with complete written, informed parental consent and child assent 5. Subjects with IQ of 70 or more Exclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects who have IQ in the below 70 2. Subjects who are younger than 7 years old or older than 16 years old 3. Those without written parental consent 4. Those with brain pathology such as serious head injury, epilepsy, etc.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change from Baseline Heart Rate at 6 months

For Trier Social Stress Task

Time frame: 7 minutes each at 0 months and 6 months

Change from Baseline Skin Conductance Response at 6 months

For loud sound

Time frame: 4 minutes each at 0 months and 6 months

Change from Baseline Skin Conductance Response at 6 months

For threatening photographs

Time frame: 4 minutes each at 0 months and 6 months