Cognitive effects of adjunctive N-acetyl cysteine in psychosis.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive deficits are predictors of functional outcome in patients with psychosis. While conventional antipsychotics are relatively effective on positive symptoms, their impact on negative and cognitive symptoms is limited. Recent studies have established a link between oxidative stress and neurocognitive deficits in psychosis. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a glutathione precursor with glutamatergic properties, has shown efficacy on negative symptoms and functioning in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, respectively. However, there are few evidence-based approaches for managing cognitive impairment in psychosis. The present study aims to examine the cognitive effects of adjunctive NAC treatment in a pooled subgroup of participants with psychosis who completed neuropsychological assessment in two trials of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. METHOD: A sample of 58 participants were randomized in a double fashion to receive 2 g/day of NAC (n = 27) or placebo (n = 31) for 24 weeks. Attention, working memory and executive function domains were assessed. Differences between cognitive performance at baseline and end point were examined using Wilcoxon's test. The Mann-Whitney test was used to examine the differences between the NAC and placebo groups at the end point. RESULTS: Participants treated with NAC had significantly higher working memory performance at week 24 compared with placebo (U = 98.5, p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: NAC may have an impact on cognitive performance in psychosis, as a significant improvement in working memory was observed in the NAC-treated group compared with placebo; however, these preliminary data require replication. Glutamatergic compounds such as NAC may constitute a step towards the development of useful therapies for cognitive impairment in psychosis.

Consequence of child and adolescent depressive symptom trajectories for adult depressive disorders and symptoms: A systematic review & meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Group differences in longitudinal patterns of child and adolescent depressive symptoms are commonly observed. However, the implications for adult mental health are unclear. This study presents a systematic review of child and adolescent depressive symptom trajectory research and meta-analysis of their longitudinal effects on adult depressive symptoms and disorders. METHODS: A systematic search identified 12 longitudinal studies (12 cohorts, N = 35,058) that were harmonized to identify common symptom trajectories prior to age 18 years. Examination of follow-up in the same groups was made (at average age 20.5 years) to estimate longitudinal associations with adult depressive symptoms (Sx) and disorders (Dx), using random effects meta-analyses. RESULTS: The included studies identified Low (70.3 %), Moderate (17.9 %), High (9.5 %), Increasing (9.5 %) and Decreasing (5.1 %) symptom trajectories. These trajectories were found to predict variation in symptoms and disorders in adulthood: Low, Dx = 4.5 %, 95 % Confidence Interval [CI] 2.7-6.8 %, Sx [Mean] = 8.33, Standard Deviation [SD] = 6.30; Moderate, Dx = 20.9 %, CI 11.9-31.5 % - Sx = 18.13, SD = 3.38; High, Dx = 34.4 % CI 17.2-54.0 % - Sx = 38.80, SD = 7.75; Increasing, Dx = 38.3 %, CI 12.7-67.5 % - Sx = 24.73, SD = 18.64; Decreasing, Dx = 15.4 %, CI 10.5-20.9 % - Sx = 17.00, SD = 12.18. LIMITATIONS: Confidence intervals are wide for some trajectory effects. There was significant between-cohort heterogeneity in predictive effects for High trajectories, suggesting the need for further research to identify characteristics influencing variation. CONCLUSION: Low symptom trajectories forecast lower adult depression symptoms and disorders. Programs effectively targeting reductions in Moderate, High, Increasing and Decreasing trajectories will likely prevent problems in early adulthood.