Schizophrenia phospholipid hypothesis

Horrobin DF. 1998. The membrane phospholipid hypothesis as a biochemical basis for the neurodevelopmental concept of schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 30 193-208. 

Early Studies of Phospholipid Changes in Schizophrenia and the Membrane Phospholipid Hypothesis for the Pathogenesis of Schizophrenia... 

In summary, existing drug treatments for schizophrenia are of limited efficacy and have substantial side effects. New treatment can arise only on the basis of a new hypothesis. The phospholipid hypothesis of schizophrenia provides the theoretical basis for treatment with PUPA supplementation. Pre vlous studies using n-6 supplementation have had mixed results. We now have evidence from a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that EPA, but not DHA, is effective in reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia. It is possible that the response to EPA is impaired by concomitant treatment with antipsychotic drugs that damage membrane phospholipids. The best treatment effects of EPA have been seen in patients who are otherwise unmedicated or who are currently taking clozapine. This remains to be explored further. 

---