A preliminary investigation on the efficacy of N-acetyl cysteine for mania or hypomania. (June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vieira da Silva Magalhães, Pedro; Dean, Olivia M; Bush, Ashley I; Copolov, David L; Malhi, Gin S; Kohlmann, Kristy; Jeavons, Susan; Schapkaitz, Ian; Anderson-Hunt, Murray; Berk, Michael
• Is Part Of: Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. Volume 47:Number 6(2013)
• Page Start: 564
• Page End: 568
• Publication Date: 2013-06
• Subjects: Bipolar disorder -- depression -- mania -- N-acetyl cysteine -- oxidative stress -- remission -- treatment; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Australia -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1177/0004867413481631
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-8674

Abstract

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.