What Future Role Might N-Acetyl-Cysteine Have in the Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive and Grooming Disorders?: A Systematic Review

Louise Smith; Derek K. Tracy; Giovanni Giaroli

doi:10.1097/JCP.0000000000000431

What Future Role Might N-Acetyl-Cysteine Have in the Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive and Grooming Disorders? A Systematic Review

Louise Smith^*, Derek K. Tracy, Giovanni Giaroli

^*Corresponding author for this work

Psychological Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

551 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Licensed pharmacological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorders include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants. However, a large proportion of patients show minimal or no therapeutic response to these treatments. The glutamatergic system has been implicated in the etiology of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, and it has been postulated that n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) could have a therapeutic effect on these conditions through its actions on the glutamatergic system and the reduction of oxidative stress. A systematic review was conducted on the existing methodologically robust literature regarding the efficacy of NAC on obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders in adults and children. Four randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled studies were identified, investigating the effects of NAC on obsessive-compulsive disorder, trichotillomania, and onychophagia. Results remain inconclusive, but NAC may still be useful as a treatment for obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders on an individual level, particularly as the compound has a relatively benign side-effect profile. The dearth of methodologically robust work is clinically important: larger randomized controlled trials are required to inform of any meaningful clinical effectiveness, and to better determine which, if any, clinical populations might most benefit.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	57-62
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Volume	36
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0000000000000431
Publication status	Published - Feb 2016

Keywords

Acetylcysteine
NAC
OCD
Trichotillomania

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1097/JCP.0000000000000431

What Future Role Might_SMITH_Accepted16October2015_GREEN AAMAccepted author manuscript, 1.19 MB

Cite this

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abstract = "Licensed pharmacological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorders include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants. However, a large proportion of patients show minimal or no therapeutic response to these treatments. The glutamatergic system has been implicated in the etiology of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, and it has been postulated that n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) could have a therapeutic effect on these conditions through its actions on the glutamatergic system and the reduction of oxidative stress. A systematic review was conducted on the existing methodologically robust literature regarding the efficacy of NAC on obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders in adults and children. Four randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled studies were identified, investigating the effects of NAC on obsessive-compulsive disorder, trichotillomania, and onychophagia. Results remain inconclusive, but NAC may still be useful as a treatment for obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders on an individual level, particularly as the compound has a relatively benign side-effect profile. The dearth of methodologically robust work is clinically important: larger randomized controlled trials are required to inform of any meaningful clinical effectiveness, and to better determine which, if any, clinical populations might most benefit.",

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