Diet and Aggression: Reducing Aggression Among Chronic Psychiatric Inpatients Through Dietary Supplementation

Diet and Aggression: Reducing Aggression Among Chronic Psychiatric Inpatients Through Dietary Supplementation

Diet and Aggression: Reducing Aggression Among Chronic Psychiatric Inpatients Through Supplementation of Multivitamins, Minerals and n-3 Fatty Acids

The overall goal of this study is to investigate whether the daily administration of multivitamins, minerals and n-3 fatty acids will reduce aggression in long-term psychiatric inpatients and will thereby reduce costs of care.

Aggressive incidents are highly prevalent among chronic psychiatric inpatients. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of multivitamin-, mineral-, and n-3 fatty acids (n-3FA) supplementation to reduce aggression in adolescent and forensic populations. To test the hypothesis that multivitamin-, mineral-, and n-3FA supplementation reduces aggression among chronic psychiatric inpatients, we designed a pragmatic, randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled, multicentre intervention study among psychiatric inpatients residing in long-stay psychiatric wards. During 6 months, one group receives 2 supplements daily from Orthica: one containing vitamins and minerals (vitamins [B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B11, B12, C, D, E, Beta Carotene; Calcium, Iodine, Copper, Magnesium, Selenium, Iron, Zinc, Potassium, Chrome, Manganese]) and one containing fish fatty acids (n-3FA: eicosapentaenic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenic acid [DHA]) and the other group receives 2 placebo capsules. The main study parameter is the number of aggressive incidents from baseline (t0) to endpoint (six months post baseline, t3). Patients who wish to participate enter a 2-week run-in phase in which they take 2 placebo capsules daily. After positive evaluation of this run-in phase patients are randomized to the active or the control condition. Participants will then start the daily use of 2 supplement capsules or 2 placebo capsules, which will continue for 6 months. At 3 time points (at baseline [t0] and at 2 and 6 months post-baseline [t2 and t3]), three questionnaires measuring feelings of aggression, quality of life, and psychiatric symptoms will be administered. Also, at t0 and t3 (micro)nutrient status will be determined. Finally, at 4 time points (t0, 2 weeks post baseline [t1], t2 and t3), nursing staff will report on observed levels of aggression and social dysfunction.

During 6 months one group receives 3 placebo supplements daily with identical look and feel to Orthica Soft Multi Mini and Orthica Fish EPA Mini

daily intake of 2 Orthica Soft Multi Mini capsules (containing vitamins [B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B11, B12, C, D, E, Beta Carotene] and minerals [Iodine, Copper, Selenium, Iron, Zinc, Chrome, Manganese]) and 1 Orthica Fish EPA Mini capsule (containing n-3FA: eicosapentaenic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenic acid [DHA])

The main study parameter is the number of aggressive incidents from baseline (t0) to endpoint (six months post baseline, t3), as registered daily on the ward by nurses using the Dutch version of the Staff Observation Aggression Scale- Revised version (SOAS-R)

the Aangepaste Versie van de Agressievragenlijst (AVL-AV, 1), a 12 item self-report questionnaire about feelings of aggression.

the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHO-QL-bref 5), a 26-item observer rated quality of life instrument.

The verkorte Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (vCPRS), a 25-item observer rated instrument on affective symptoms, which includes the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).

Nursing staff will fill in the Social Dysfunction Aggression Scale (SDAS), measuring observed levels of aggression and social dysfunction.

At 4 points (baseline [t0], 2 weeks post baseline [t1], 2 months post baseline[t2] and six months post baseline [t3])

Blood samples (50cc) will be taken to determine micronutrient status, including Vitamins A, E, B1, B6, B12, D, and folate, total iron, magnesium, and the fatty acid spectrum.

Inclusion Criteria: residing at a facility for long-term psychiatric inpatient care age 18 or over Exclusion Criteria: pregnancy breastfeeding known contra-indication for using the supplements used in this study expected discharge or transfer within the next 8 weeks current use of dietary supplements and refusal to stop using these for the duration of the study failure to complete run-in phase contra-indication for the use of pork-gelatin

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