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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
N-acetylcysteine for major mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Volume 137, No. 5, Year 2018
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Description
Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examined the efficacy and safety of adjunctive N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant drug, in treating major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, CNKI, CBM, and WanFang databases were independently searched and screened by two researchers. Standardized mean differences (SMDs), risk ratios, and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. Results: Six RCTs (n = 701) of NAC for schizophrenia (three RCTs, n = 307), bipolar disorder (two RCTs, n = 125), and MDD (one RCT, n = 269) were identified and analyzed as separate groups. Adjunctive NAC significantly improved total psychopathology (SMD = −0.74, 95% CI: −1.43, −0.06; I2 = 84%, P = 0.03) in schizophrenia, but it had no significant effect on depressive and manic symptoms as assessed by the Young Mania Rating Scale in bipolar disorder and only a small effect on major depressive symptoms. Adverse drug reactions to NAC and discontinuation rates between the NAC and control groups were similar across the three disorders. Conclusions: Adjunctive NAC appears to be a safe treatment that has efficacy for schizophrenia, but not for bipolar disorder or MDD. Further higher quality RCTs are warranted to determine the role of adjunctive NAC in the treatment of major psychiatric disorders. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Authors & Co-Authors
Ng, Chee H.
Australia, Melbourne
University of Melbourne
Berk, Michael
Australia, Geelong
Barwon Health
Australia, Melbourne
Orygen Youth Health
Yu-Tao, Xiang
Macao, Taipa
University of Macau
Statistics
Citations: 64
Authors: 3
Affiliations: 8
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/acps.12862
ISSN:
0001690X
Research Areas
Mental Health
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Study Approach
Quantitative
Systematic review