Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials with N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry
; 54(5): 453-466, 2020 05.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31826654
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
There is accumulating evidence that adjunctive treatment with N-acetylcysteine may be effective for schizophrenia. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis examining the efficacy of randomised control trials investigating N-acetylcysteine as an adjunct treatment for schizophrenia and the first to investigate cognition as an outcome.METHODS:
We systematically reviewed Medline, EmCare, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL Complete, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database and the Cochrane Clinical Trials online registry for randomised control trials of N-acetylcysteine for schizophrenia. We undertook pairwise meta-analyses of N-acetylcysteine vs placebo for psychosis symptoms and cognition.RESULTS:
Seven studies, including n = 220 receiving N-acetylcysteine and n = 220 receiving placebo, met inclusion criteria for the pairwise meta-analyses. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale negative and total scores were significantly improved in the N-acetylcysteine group after 24 weeks of treatment. The cognitive domain of working memory improved with N-acetylcysteine supplementation.CONCLUSION:
Evidence supports the notion that N-acetylcysteine may be a useful adjunct to standard treatment for the improvement of schizophrenia symptoms, as well as the cognitive domain of working memory. Treatment effects were observed at the later time point (⩾24 weeks), suggesting that longer interventions are required for the success of N-acetylcysteine treatment.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Psychotic Disorders
/
Schizophrenia
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Systematic_reviews
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Aust N Z J Psychiatry
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Australia