Supplemental Use of Complementary Alternative Medicine for the Treatment of Schizophrenia

Abstract

Through a variety of mechanisms, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), ascorbic acid, and folate have been proposed as beneficial supplements in the treatment of schizophrenia. Although data are conflicting regarding the potential for any of these supplements to improve symptoms, current studies suggest that PUFAs may be potentially beneficial for younger patients at high risk of developing schizophrenia, or those experiencing their first episode. Similarly, benefit of folate supplementation may be most significant for patients with certain genetic variants in enzymes critical for folate metabolism. At doses used in clinical studies with schizophrenia populations, these complementary alternative medications have been found to be generally safe and may be considered as adjunctive agents to traditional therapy for interested patients. [ Psychiatr Ann. 2018;48(5):211–213.]