Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials with N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of schizophrenia

Study answer

What this study found

Adjunctive NAC showed a modest overall benefit, with the clearest effects on negative symptoms and total PANSS scores after longer treatment durations. At 24 weeks or longer, PANSS negative symptoms improved versus placebo (SMD = -0.41, p = 0.006) and PANSS total scores improved (SMD = -0.64, p < 0.001); across final timepoints, PANSS negative symptoms also favored NAC (SMD = -0.72, p = 0.003) and PANSS general symptoms were borderline (SMD = -0.34, p = 0.05). NAC also improved working memory across three studies (SMD = 0.56, p = 0.005), while processing speed did not differ significantly…

Study & population

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in people with schizophrenia or first-episode psychosis.

Intervention

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was used as an adjunct to standard antipsychotic treatment in randomized placebo-controlled trials.

Key limitation

Interpretation is limited by heterogeneity across trials, relatively few studies, and variable reporting of demographics, safety, and secondary outcomes.

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Original abstract