Omega-3 Supplementation and Emotional Blunting: A Placebo-Controlled Investigation
Issue Date
2013-05-31Author
Rhyner, Kathleen
Publisher
University of Kansas
Format
27 pages
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
M.A.
Discipline
Psychology
Rights
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
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Show full item recordAbstract
One side effect of SSRI medication is emotional blunting, characterized by a restricted range of emotions and decreased caring. Because omega-3 supplements also have established antidepressant properties, they might also induce emotional blunting. Participants were randomized to receive omega-3 supplements or pill placebos for three weeks. Emotional blunting was evaluated via three assessment strategies: scores on an emotional blunting questionnaire, emotional reactions to a dysphoric mood induction, and daily mood ratings. As hypothesized, participants in the omega-3 group scored significantly higher on the emotional blunting questionnaire, with an effect size in the moderate range. They also scored significantly higher on 3 of the questionnaire's 4 subscales. However, omega-3 supplementation was not associated with a reduced emotional response to the mood-induction, nor with any reduction in the variability of daily mood ratings. These findings suggest that healthy individuals taking omega-3 supplements may experience moderate blunting in a subset of emotion-linked domains.
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