TABLE 1.
Study |
Intervention |
N |
Findings |
Berk et al21 (2008) | NAC 1 g twice daily vs placebo for 28 wk | 140 | In predominately clozapine- or olanzapine-treated patients with chronic schizophrenia: • PANSS negative scores improved, which was no longer evident at 4 wk post-NAC discontinuation • PANSS positive scores were not different between intervention groups • No effects on cognition were seen in the subset of subjects that received cognitive assessment |
Farokhnia et al22 (2013) | NAC 1 g daily for 1 wk then twice daily vs placebo for 8 wk | 42 | Among inpatients concomitantly initiated on risperidone for treatment of active phase schizophrenia: • A significant improvement was seen in PANSS negative scores • No change found in PANSS positive scores • No assessment of cognition was performed |
Sepehrmanesh et al23 (2018) | NAC 600 mg twice daily vs placebo for 12 wk | 84 | In patients with chronic schizophrenia but not managed on clozapine: • PANSS positive and negative scores were significantly improved • Improved cognitive assessment scores were noted |
NAC = N-acetylcysteine; PANSS = Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.