Journal article
N-acetylcysteine in psychiatry: Current therapeutic evidence and potential mechanisms of action
O Dean, F Giorlando, M Berk
Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience | Published : 2011
DOI: 10.1503/jpn.100057
Abstract
There is an expanding field of research investigating the benefits of alternatives to current pharmacological therapies in psychiatry. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is emerging as a useful agent in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Like many therapies, the clinical origins of NAC are far removed from its current use in psychiatry. Whereas the mechanisms of NAC are only beginning to be understood, it is likely that NAC is exerting benefits beyond being a precursor to the antioxidant, glutathione, modulating glutamatergic, neurotropic and inflammatory pathways. This review outlines the current literature regarding the use of NAC in disorders including addiction, compulsive and grooming disorder..
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Grants
Awarded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
This work was supported in part by a grant from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (O.D. and M.B., NHMRC No. 509109) and a Melbourne Research Scholarship (RC.) to the University of Melbourne. Dr. Berk declares having been a consultant for AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Cilag and Servier; his institution has received grants from the Stanley Medical Research Institute, MBF, the National Health and Medical Research Council, Beyond Blue, the Geelong Medical Research Foundation, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Organon, Novartis, Mayne Pharma and Servier; he has received honoraria from Astra Zeneca, Eli Lilly, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Pfizer, Sanofi Synthelabo, Servier, Solvay and Wyeth; and he has travel funding from Janssen Cilag, Astra Zeneca, Wyeth and Pfizer.