The Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) and Related Disorders
Introduction N-acetylcysteine is known for its uses in non-psychiatric conditions, such as paracetamol overdose and as a mucolytic. The rationale for its administration in psychiatric conditions is based on its ability reducing synaptic glutamate release, which was found to be increased in the ce...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822016534/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797617232981786624 |
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| author | J. Sá Couto J. Rodrigues M. Pão Trigo B. Da Luz T. Ventura Gil |
| author_facet | J. Sá Couto J. Rodrigues M. Pão Trigo B. Da Luz T. Ventura Gil |
| author_sort | J. Sá Couto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
N-acetylcysteine is known for its uses in non-psychiatric conditions, such as paracetamol overdose and as a mucolytic. The rationale for its administration in psychiatric conditions is based on its ability reducing synaptic glutamate release, which was found to be increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of OCD patients.
Objectives
Evaluating N-acetylcysteine efficacy in OCD symptoms. Studying mechanisms underlying its action. Identifying the frequency of side effects.
Methods
PubMed database search, with the “N-acetylcysteine obsessive compulsive” keyword expression. The search was restricted to English-only articles, published in the last ten years. Twenty-five results among the best match correspondence were selected. Reference lists of articles were reviewed to identify additional articles.
Results
Oliver et al. found that a daily dose of 2.400 to 3.000 milligrams of N-acetylcysteine reduced the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms with minimal side effects; Smith et al. found inconclusive evidence on its efficacy. A clinical trial from Ghazinadeh et al. revealed N-acetylcysteine to be effective as an add-on to citalopram, reducing the score of resistance/control to obsessions after supplementing with N-acetylcysteine. Costa et al. found out it was superior to placebo in anxiety control as a secondary outcome.
Conclusions
The potential efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of psychiatric disorders attracted interest. Mixed evidence was found that N-acetylcysteine may have some benefits controlling compulsions, both as an adjunctive as and as monotherapy. Thus, larger and more robust studies are required to further investigate the clinical effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine in this area.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:52:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d3d7259d6f8d416ca24a21ee27f22012 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:52:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-d3d7259d6f8d416ca24a21ee27f220122023-11-17T05:06:25ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S644S64510.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.1653The Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) and Related DisordersJ. Sá Couto0J. Rodrigues1M. Pão Trigo2B. Da Luz3T. Ventura Gil4Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve, Departamento De Psiquiatria E Saúde Mental, Unidade De Faro, Faro, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve, Departamento De Psiquiatria E Saúde Mental, Unidade De Faro, Faro, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve, Departamento De Psiquiatria E Saúde Mental, Unidade De Faro, Faro, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve, Departamento De Psiquiatria E Saúde Mental, Unidade De Faro, Faro, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve, Departamento De Psiquiatria E Saúde Mental, Unidade De Faro, Faro, Portugal Introduction N-acetylcysteine is known for its uses in non-psychiatric conditions, such as paracetamol overdose and as a mucolytic. The rationale for its administration in psychiatric conditions is based on its ability reducing synaptic glutamate release, which was found to be increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of OCD patients. Objectives Evaluating N-acetylcysteine efficacy in OCD symptoms. Studying mechanisms underlying its action. Identifying the frequency of side effects. Methods PubMed database search, with the “N-acetylcysteine obsessive compulsive” keyword expression. The search was restricted to English-only articles, published in the last ten years. Twenty-five results among the best match correspondence were selected. Reference lists of articles were reviewed to identify additional articles. Results Oliver et al. found that a daily dose of 2.400 to 3.000 milligrams of N-acetylcysteine reduced the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms with minimal side effects; Smith et al. found inconclusive evidence on its efficacy. A clinical trial from Ghazinadeh et al. revealed N-acetylcysteine to be effective as an add-on to citalopram, reducing the score of resistance/control to obsessions after supplementing with N-acetylcysteine. Costa et al. found out it was superior to placebo in anxiety control as a secondary outcome. Conclusions The potential efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of psychiatric disorders attracted interest. Mixed evidence was found that N-acetylcysteine may have some benefits controlling compulsions, both as an adjunctive as and as monotherapy. Thus, larger and more robust studies are required to further investigate the clinical effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine in this area. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822016534/type/journal_articleCompulsionobsessive-compulsive disorderGlutamateN-acetylcysteine |
| spellingShingle | J. Sá Couto J. Rodrigues M. Pão Trigo B. Da Luz T. Ventura Gil The Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) and Related Disorders European Psychiatry Compulsion obsessive-compulsive disorder Glutamate N-acetylcysteine |
| title | The Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) and Related Disorders |
| title_full | The Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) and Related Disorders |
| title_fullStr | The Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) and Related Disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) and Related Disorders |
| title_short | The Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) and Related Disorders |
| title_sort | role of n acetylcysteine in obsessive compulsive ocd and related disorders |
| topic | Compulsion obsessive-compulsive disorder Glutamate N-acetylcysteine |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822016534/type/journal_article |
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