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- Title
Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials with N -acetylcysteine in the treatment of schizophrenia.
- Authors
Yolland, Caitlin OB; Hanratty, Donal; Neill, Erica; Rossell, Susan L; Berk, Michael; Dean, Olivia M; Castle, David J; Tan, Eric J; Phillipou, Andrea; Harris, Anthony WF; Barreiros, Ana Rita; Hansen, Abigail; Siskind, Dan
- 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.
- Subjects
DRUG therapy for schizophrenia; CINAHL database; COGNITIVE testing; GLUTATHIONE; MEDICAL information storage &; retrieval systems; PSYCHOLOGY information storage &; retrieval systems; MEDLINE; META-analysis; SHORT-term memory; SYSTEMATIC reviews; TREATMENT effectiveness; TREATMENT duration; ACETYLCYSTEINE
- Publication
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2020, Vol 54, Issue 5, p453
- ISSN
0004-8674
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/0004867419893439