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A preliminary investigation on the efficacy of N-acetyl cysteine for mania or hypomania

Version 2 2024-05-30, 15:34
Version 1 2014-10-28, 10:05
journal contribution
posted on 2024-05-30, 15:34 authored by PV Da Silva Magalhães, Olivia DeanOlivia Dean, AI Bush, DL Copolov, GS Malhi, K Kohlmann, S Jeavons, I Schapkaitz, M Anderson-Hunt, Michael BerkMichael Berk
Objective: Oxidative imbalance has emerged as a treatment target in bipolar disorder. As very limited data are available on the clinical use of antioxidants for mania, we report here results from a post hoc and exploratory subgroup analysis of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). Methods: This was a placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial assessing the effect of NAC over 24 weeks in mania or hypomania. Symptomatic and functional outcomes were collected over the study period. Results: Fifteen participants were available for this report; two participants in each group failed to complete all assessments. Within-group analyses pointed to an improvement in the NAC group on manic symptoms and worsening in the placebo group on depressive symptoms at endpoint. Conclusions: Although the sample size was small, these results indicated within-group efficacy for this glutathione precursor as compared to placebo. Future trials specifically designed to demonstrate the efficacy of NAC in mania are needed.

History

Journal

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry

Volume

47

Pagination

564-568

Location

England

ISSN

0004-8674

eISSN

1440-1614

Language

English

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2013, Sage Publishing

Issue

6

Publisher

SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD