First episode psychosis (FEP) has been associated with structural brain changes, largely identified by volumetric analyses. Advances in neuroimaging processing have made it possible to measure geometric properties that may identify subtle structural changes not appreciated by a measure of volume alone. In this study we adopt complementary methods of assessing the structural integrity of grey matter in FEP patients and assess whether these relate to patient clinical and functional outcome at 3 year follow-up. 1.5 Tesla T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance (MR) images were acquired for 46 patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis and 46 healthy controls. Cerebral cortical thickness and local gyrification index (LGI) were investigated using FreeSurfer software. Volume and shape of the hippocampus, caudate and lateral ventricles were assessed using manual tracing and spherical harmonics applied for shape description. A cluster of cortical thinning was identified in FEP compared to controls; this was located in the right superior temporal gyrus, sulcus, extended into the middle temporal gyrus (lateral temporal cortex -LTC). Bilateral caudate volumes were significantly lower in FEP relative to controls and the right caudate also displayed regions of shape deflation in the FEP group. No significant structural abnormalities were identified in cortical LGI or hippocampal or lateral ventricle volume/shape. Neither LTC nor caudate abnormalities were related to change in symptom severity or global functioning 3 years later. LTC and caudate abnormalities are present at the first episode of psychosis but do not appear to directly affect clinical or functional outcome.

OBJECTIVES:Previous work suggests supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may improve mood symptoms in bipolar disorder (BD) although findings remain unclear. In this study, we assess the efficacy of omega-3 PUFA administration for prophylaxis in BD using a clinical trial design over 52-weeks (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04210804). METHODS: Individuals with BD (n = 80) were randomised to receive placebo (n = 40) or 1 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus 1 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; n = 40) adjunctively for 52-weeks. The primary outcome measure comprised the number of mood episode relapses including hospital admissions and medication changes experienced. Secondary outcome measures included time to first mood episode relapse and change in psychometric measures of depression and elation (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Young Mania Rating Scale).RESULTS: No significant differences in the number of mood episode relapses (U = 490.00, p = 0.14) or the number of individuals requiring admission to hospital (χ 2 = 0.67, p = 0.41) or medication adjustment in the omega-3 PUFA compared to the placebo group were noted. Time to relapse was not significantly different between groups (Log Rank χ 2 = 0.41, p = 0.52). Change in Young Manic Rating Scale (F(3.12, 152.86) = 2.71, p = 0.05) was significantly different between treatment groups over 12-months, with scores at 9-months and 12-months significantly lower than those at 3-months in the omega-3 group and not in the placebo group. Change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Global Clinical Impression and Global Assessment of Functioning were not different between groups.CONCLUSIONS: Despite a minor reduction in hypomania scores in the omega-3 PUFA group compared to placebo, we find little evidence that the supplementation of omega-3-PUFAs exhibits prophylactic benefit in BD.

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