serval:BIB_00A3B9194A8F
Treatment in early psychosis with N-acetyl-cysteine for 6 months improves low-level auditory processing: Pilot study.
10.1016/j.schres.2017.07.008
000418608900011
28711476
Retsa
C.
author
Knebel
J.F.
author
Geiser
E.
author
Ferrari
C.
author
Jenni
R.
author
Fournier
M.
author
Alameda
L.
author
Baumann
P.S.
author
Clarke
S.
author
Conus
P.
author
Do
K.Q.
author
Murray
M.M.
author
article
2018-01
Schizophrenia research
1573-2509
0920-9964
journal
191
80-86
Sensory impairments constitute core dysfunctions in schizophrenia. In the auditory modality, impaired mismatch negativity (MMN) has been observed in chronic schizophrenia and may reflect N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) hypo-function, consistent with models of schizophrenia based on oxidative stress. Moreover, a recent study demonstrated deficits in the N100 component of the auditory evoked potential (AEP) in early psychosis patients. Previous work has shown that add-on administration of the glutathione precursor N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) improves the MMN and clinical symptoms in chronic schizophrenia. To date, it remains unknown whether NAC also improves general low-level auditory processing and if its efficacy would extend to early-phase psychosis. We addressed these issues with a randomized, double-blind study of a small sample (N=15) of early psychosis (EP) patients and 18 healthy controls from whom AEPs were recorded during an active, auditory oddball task. Patients were recorded twice: once prior to NAC/placebo administration and once after six months of treatment. The N100 component was significantly smaller in patients before NAC administration versus controls. Critically, NAC administration improved this AEP deficit. Source estimations revealed increased activity in the left temporo-parietal lobe in patients after NAC administration. Overall, the data from this pilot study, which call for replication in a larger sample, indicate that NAC improves low-level auditory processing in early psychosis.
Acetylcysteine/pharmacology
Acetylcysteine/therapeutic use
Acoustic Stimulation
Adult
Antipsychotic Agents/pharmacology
Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use
Contingent Negative Variation/drug effects
Double-Blind Method
Electroencephalography
Evoked Potentials, Auditory/drug effects
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Pilot Projects
Psychotic Disorders/drug therapy
Young Adult
Auditory
Auditory evoked potential
Glutathione
Mismatch negativity
N-acetyl-cysteine
Redox
eng
60_published
peer-reviewed
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
University of Lausanne
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