SYMPOSIA

Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Vol: 21, Supplement: 2, 2011 - www.psikofarmakoloji.org
Abstracts of the Invited Speakers
that add-on treatments with omega-3 fatty acids in mood disorders significantly improved the symptoms. Another way to investigate the
effects of omega-3 fatty acids is by estimating the regional brain concentrations of various metabolites with proton magnetic resonance
spectroscopy (PMRS). In a study that used this method in a population with first-episode psychosis, improvement of the negative
symptoms of the patients were observed parallel to the increase in glutathione availability and modulation of the glutamine/glutamate
cycle with ethyl-eicosapenthaenoic acid augmentation treatment (4). Post-mortem polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in the
prefrontal areas of antipsychotic-naive schizophrenia patients were found to be lower than those of schizophrenia patients treated with
atypical antipsychotics. Additionally, in an animal study, increases in the omega-3 fatty acid concentration in erythrocytes and prefrontal
cortex were observed after long-term treatment with risperidone.
One of the earliest reports about the possible psychiatric effects of vitamin B12 deficiency belongs to Langdon in 1905. Vitamin B12
together with folate are essential for conversion of homocysteine to methionine and synthesis of adenosyl-methionine. S-adenosylmethionine
is responsible for methylation in the metabolism of neurotransmitters (5). There are various studies that showed associations
of depression, dementia and schizophrenia with deficiencies of folate and vitamin B12. Some studies have focussed on folate rather
than vitamin B12 and have suggested a stronger role for folate in depression. Independent from serum levels of folate and vitamin
B12, augmention with these vitamins may be beneficial to patients who have predominantly cognitive symptoms, who are resistant to
treatment, pregnantor use lithium (6).
Consequently, augmentation with omega-3 fatty acids, folate and vitamin B12 may have some clinical benefits in the treatment of some
psychiatric disorders. However, mechanisms of their actions still need to be further elucidated.
Key words: Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, folate, psychiatric disorders
References:
1. Bazan NG. Lipid signaling in neural plasticity, brain repair, and neuroprotection. Mol Neurobiol 2005; 32: 89–103
2. Yao JK, Leonard S, Reddy R. Altered glutathione redox state in schizophrenia. Dis Markers 2006; 22: 83–93
3. Frangou S, Lewis M, Wollard J, Simmons A. Preliminary in vivo evidence of increased N-acetyl-aspartate following eicosapentanoic acid treatment in patients with
bipolar disorder. J Psychopharmacol 2007; 21: 435-439
4. Berger GE, Wood SJ, Wellard RM, Proffitt TM, McConchie M, Amminger GP, Jackson GD, Velakoulis D, Pantelis C, McGorry PD. Ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid in firstepisode
psychosis. A 1H-MRS study. Neuropsychopharmacology 2008; 33: 2467-2473
5. Bottiglieri T. Folate, vitamin B12, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Nutr Rev 1996; 54:382-390
6. Lindeman RD, Romero LJ, Koehler KM, Liang HC, LaRue A, Baumgartner RN, Garry PJ. Serum vitamin B12, C and folate concentrations in the New Mexico elder
health survey: Correlations with cognitive and affective functions. J Am Coll Nutr 2000; 19: 68-76
Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology 2011;21(Suppl. 2):S66-7
[PS-09]
Symposium Title: From preclinical studies to clinical practice in anxiety disorders
Medical disease and anxiety disorders
Hayriye Elbi
Ege University, School of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, İzmir, Turkey
E-mail: hayriye.elbi@yahoo.com;hayriye@ege.edu.tr;hayriye.elbi@med.ege.edu.tr
Chronic medical illness causes us to face our vulnerabilities and is a significant risk factor for the development of an anxiety disorder.
The vulnerability could be associated with the stress of illness and coping with the limitations of illness. Anxiety disorders may also
develop secondary to predisposing biological mechanisms (as in diabetes or thyroid disorders) or may be related to a patient’s specific
medications.
We need to explore the causes of an anxiety disorder and plan our treatment so that it will not interfere with the medical disease and its
treatments. Drug interactions are very important in medical comorbidity cases. Every disorder comes with a new life style and necessity
for new adaptations. The uncertainty and barriers to daily life worsen the situation. I will review the anxiety associated with medical
diseases and the current treatments for it.
Key words: Medical diseases, anxiety disorders
Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology 2011;21(Suppl. 2):S67
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