Khan et al. (2002) reported on erythrocyte membrane EFA levels and levels of plasma lipid peroxides, products of damaged EFAs, in drug-naive patients within +/-4.5 days of onset of psychosis. The levels of EFAs, particularly AA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were significantly lower in drug-naive patients at the onset of psychosis compared to matched normal controls. These lower EFA levels were associated with significantly higher levels of lipid peroxides in patients. The levels of AA and DHA were also lower and lipid peroxides higher in chronic medicated patients than normal controls. Interestingly in context with this proposal, EFA levels were higher in chronic medicated patients than drug-naive first-episode patients. Khan et al. concluded that these findings could indicate that lower membrane AA and DHA most likely predate the illness and probably contribute to the onset of illness. The lipid peroxidation data suggest that possible increased oxidative stress may be one of the mechanisms of reduced membrane EFAs. The findings also imply that supplementation of EFAs and/or antioxidants might provide effective treatments for early psychosis. This view is supported by Horrobin et al. (2002) who showed that increase in red cell AA levels resulted from treatment with the optimal levels of EPA and that, clinical improvement was highly significantly positively correlated with rises in red cell membrane AA in individuals with schizophrenia.