Omega-3 Supplementation and Emotional Blunting: A Placebo-Controlled Investigation

Abstract

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.