Omega-3 fatty acids in psychiatry

Omega-3 fatty acids (ALA, EPA, DHA) are essential polyunsaturated fatty aci ds. Due to their pivotal involvement in signal transduction processes in th e CNS,a role for these fatty acids in psychiatric disorders has been postul ated. This review summarizes the latest findings on the physiological funct ion of these compounds in the CNS and gives a comprehensive overview on the emerging therapeutic role of these psychoactive drugs in psychiatric disor ders, with special emphasis being put on affective disorders and schizophre nia.