Clinical trials of N-acetylcysteine in psychiatry and neurology: A systematic review

Deepmala; J Slattery; N Kumar; L Delhey; M Berk; O Dean; C Spielholz; R Frye

Journal article

Clinical trials of N-acetylcysteine in psychiatry and neurology: A systematic review

undefined Deepmala, J Slattery, N Kumar, L Delhey, M Berk, O Dean, C Spielholz, R Frye

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews | Published : 2015

DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.04.015

Abstract

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is recognized for its role in acetaminophen overdose and as a mucolytic. Over the past decade, there has been growing evidence for the use of NAC in treating psychiatric and neurological disorders, considering its role in attenuating pathophysiological processes associated with these disorders, including oxidative stress, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation and glutamate and dopamine dysregulation. In this systematic review we find favorable evidence for the use of NAC in several psychiatric and neurological disorders, particularly autism, Alzheimer's disease, cocaine and cannabis addiction, bipolar disorder, depression, trichotillomania, nail bitin..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Michael Berk Author

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Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

Michael Berk, MBBch, MMed(Psych), FF(Psych)SA, FRANZCP, PhD, has received Grant/Research Support from the NIH (MH091384-01A1), Cooperative Research Centre, Simons Autism Foundation (SFARI #201473), Cancer Council of Victoria, Stanley Medical Research Foundation, MBF, NHMRC ((APP 1061043), NHMRC Project Grant (APP 1026307). NHMRC Project Grant (APP1078928)), Beyond Blue, Rotary Health, Geelong Medical Research Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Glaxo SmithKline, Meat and Livestock Board, Organon, Novartis, Mayne Pharma, Servier and Woolworths, has been a speaker for Astra Zeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Glaxo SmithKline, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Merck, Pfizer, Sanofi Synthelabo, Servier, Solvay and Wyeth, and served as a consultant to Astra Zeneca, Bioadvantex, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Glaxo SmithKline, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck Merck and Servier. He is co-inventor of two provisional patents regarding the use of NAC and related compounds for psychiatric indications, which, while assigned to the Mental Health Research Institute, could lead to personal remuneration upon a commercialization event. Dr. Berk is supported by a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship 1059660. Olivia Dean, BSc, PhD is a Research Fellow and has received grant support from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, Simons Foundation, Australian Rotary Health, Stanley Medical Research Institute, Lilly, NHMRC and an ASBD/Servier grant. She has also received in kind support from BioMedica Nutraceuticals, NutritionCare and Bioceuticals. Charles Spielholz, PhD is a consultant to BioAdvantex Pharma Inc. that manufactures NAC in a formulation for oral administration. This formulation of NAC has been approved for use in clinical trials in the United States, Switzerland and Australia. The remainders of the authors do not have any conflicts of interest associated with this publication. There has been no significant financial support for this work.