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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third-leading cause of mortality globally, significantly affecting people over 40 years old. COPD is often comorbid with mood disorders; however, they are frequently neglected or undiagnosed in COPD management, thus resulting in unintended treatment outcomes and higher mortality associated with the disease. Although the exact link between COPD and mood disorders remains to be ascertained, there is a broader opinion that inflammatory reactions in the lungs, blood, and inflammation-induced changes in the brain could orchestrate the onset of mood disorders in COPD. Although the current management of mood disorders such as depression in COPD involves using antidepressants, their use has been limited due to tolerability issues. On the other hand, as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) play a vital role in regulating inflammatory responses, they could be promising alternatives in managing mood disorders in COPD. This review discusses comorbid mood disorders in COPD as well as their influence on the progression and management of COPD. The underlying mechanisms of comorbid mood disorders in COPD will also be discussed, along with the potential role of n-3 PUFAs in managing these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• N-3 PUFAs are nutraceuticals with high tolerability and safety profiles. • Six months of n-3 PUFAs adjunctive therapy has reduced the recurrence of bipolar depression. • Fish oil or placebo therapy for 6 months did not induce mania in our subjects. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in relapse prevention of bipolar disorder (BD), addressing the shortcomings of current medications. Thirty-one stable BD patients were randomized to receive n-3 PUFAs or placebo for 6 months and intergroup differences in the incidence of the recurrence of bipolar depression were assessed. Differences in depression severity, manic symptoms, and routine biochemical parameters were also assessed. Interestingly, n-3 PUFAs demonstrated a favorable preventive effect on bipolar depression recurrence (p =0.005; Log-Rank) and reduced depression severity compared to placebo, and were well-tolerated, suggesting their potential as a safe prophylactic therapy for BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]