Amir Ghaderi1,2, Anna Bussu3, Catherine Tsang3, Sadegh Jafarnejad4. 1. Department of Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. 2. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Science, Kashan, Iran. 3. Applied Health and Social Care, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK. 4. Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. sjafarnejad@alumnus.tums.ac.ir.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomised controlled trials on the efficacy of NAC supplementation on positive and negative syndrome scale in schizophrenia. METHODS: A meta-analysis was conducted, and studies were identified by a search of electronic databases from inception to May 2018. Combined and stratified analyses were used. RESULTS: Seven trials were identified, and data from n = 447 participants were included. Pooled analysis showed improvement of positive and negative syndrome scale following NAC treatment compared with placebo, for total (SMB = - 0.96) [95% CI - 1.69, - 0.24; P = 0.009], general (SMB = - 1.04) [95% CI - 1.80, - 0.27; P = 0.008] and negative (SMB = - 0.73) [95% CI - 1.29, - 0.17; P = 0.01] scores, respectively. Significant heterogeneity was found, and subgroup analysis showed significant reductions in studies with a treatment duration of ≤ 24 weeks, with a considerable effect size on total, general, and negative scores (Total SMD = - 0.83; General SMD = - 0.67; Negative SMD = - 1.09) following NAC. CONCLUSIONS: NAC improved all aspects of positive and negative syndrome scale in schizophrenic populations and may be more efficacious with treatment durations up to 24 weeks.
OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomised controlled trials on the efficacy of NAC supplementation on positive and negative syndrome scale in schizophrenia. METHODS: A meta-analysis was conducted, and studies were identified by a search of electronic databases from inception to May 2018. Combined and stratified analyses were used. RESULTS: Seven trials were identified, and data from n = 447 participants were included. Pooled analysis showed improvement of positive and negative syndrome scale following NAC treatment compared with placebo, for total (SMB = - 0.96) [95% CI - 1.69, - 0.24; P = 0.009], general (SMB = - 1.04) [95% CI - 1.80, - 0.27; P = 0.008] and negative (SMB = - 0.73) [95% CI - 1.29, - 0.17; P = 0.01] scores, respectively. Significant heterogeneity was found, and subgroup analysis showed significant reductions in studies with a treatment duration of ≤ 24 weeks, with a considerable effect size on total, general, and negative scores (Total SMD = - 0.83; General SMD = - 0.67; Negative SMD = - 1.09) following NAC. CONCLUSIONS:NAC improved all aspects of positive and negative syndrome scale in schizophrenic populations and may be more efficacious with treatment durations up to 24 weeks.
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