FormalPara Key Points

Through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and glutamate modulation activity N-acetyl-L-cysteine may have a role in the treatment of multiple psychiatric disorders.

Whilst there have been some promising results, especially in schizophrenia, autism, depression, and obsessive compulsive and related disorders, findings have been mixed, and better powered and longer studies are needed.

1 Introduction

N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), the acetylated precursor of L-cysteine, is used in medicine as a mucolytic agent to treat drug toxicity or overdose, given orally, intravenously, or by inhalation [1]. Though these uses are well established, there has been much recent interest in the use of NAC in treating neuropsychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, mood and anxiety disorders, and substance-use disorders (SUDs). In the following, we review the growing body of research evidence for therapeutic benefits of NAC in psychiatric disorders and the potential mechanisms by which it may exert these beneficial effects.

We conducted literature searches in PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar using the key terms “NAC”, “N-acetyl-L-cysteine”, “psychiatric disorders”, “mental illness”, and terms specific to each disorder. Manual searches were done of the bibliographies of included studies. Studies included are those that were published before December 2021. We discuss the potential therapeutic mechanisms of NAC in psychiatric disorders as well as the published literature pertaining to each individual psychiatric disorder. Within each psychiatric disorder, the underlying neurobiological deviations will be explained, followed by preclinical literature, and lastly (clinical) human literature, when available. The disorders are grouped and ordered as per their appearance in DSM-5, with the exception of Williams Syndrome, which does not appear in DSM-5 but was placed under neurodevelopmental disorders in this paper; onychophagia, which is not listed in DSM-5 but is generally considered an obsessive-compulsive-related disorder (OCRD); and Chronic Pain, which likewise is not in DSM-5 and was placed at the end of the paper.

2 Potential Therapeutic Mechanisms of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC)

NAC has multiple relevant actions including antioxidant effects, reduction of cytokine activity, modulation of dopamine release, reversal of mitochondrial dysfunction, reductions in apoptosis and ferroptosis, anti-inflammatory activity, increased neurogenesis, and increased glutamate release [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Perhaps the most important of these for the treatment of psychiatric disorders is its antioxidant activity, which it achieves through multiple mechanisms. NAC functions as an antioxidant through stimulating the synthesis of glutathione, enhancing glutathione-S-transferase activity, scavenging free radicals, and stimulating group II metabotropic glutamate receptors to decrease glutamate transmission [2]. Glutathione is the primary endogenous antioxidant in the brain. Its production rate is limited by L-cysteine availability, so increasing the supply of L-cysteine via NAC supplementation leads to an increase in brain glutathione [3].

Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of many psychiatric disorders [11]. Oxidative stress represents a state in which there is an imbalance between reactive oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, and peroxynitrite, and tissue redox defenses. It can be the result of having increased reactive oxygen species, decreased antioxidant defenses, or unrepaired oxidative damage [12]. Reactive oxygen species cause cellular lipid peroxidation, inactivation of important enzymes, malfunction of the respiratory chain, and DNA modification [11, 12]. Antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and peroxidase, metabolize reactive oxygen species into less toxic molecules, protecting the brain from harms caused by oxidative stress [12]. Severe prolonged oxidative stress can lead to glutathione depletion via the increase in glutathione disulfide formation and accumulation, leading to export and extracellular hydrolysis, protein S-glutathionylation, and formation of glutathione adducts [13]. Oxidative stress is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, which NAC has been shown to prevent [4, 5].

NAC is most frequently used in paracetamol toxicity, where mitochondrial protein adducts are formed causing oxidative stress that eventually leads to liver failure [14]. NAC prevents this through its action as a glutathione precursor, thus supporting mitochondrial metabolism [14]. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a common element linked to bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) [4, 7, 15]. In bipolar disorder, mitochondrial overactivity is associated with mania and under functioning is associated with the depressed and euthymic phase of the disorder [15]. NAC has also been shown to increase mitochondrial complex I- and IV-specific activities in synaptic mitochondrial preparations in aged mice [16].

The anti-inflammatory activity of NAC is protective against chronic inflammation, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of many psychiatric disorders [17]. Chronic inflammation is characterized by elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins. Patients acutely unwell with depression or schizophrenia are more likely to have raised inflammatory markers, and patients who have chronic inflammatory conditions, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, are at a higher risk of developing depression or schizophrenia [18]. Moreover, inflammation and psychiatric disorders are genetically linked, for example, the risk of developing schizophrenia is associated with polymorphisms in the major histocompatibility complex on chromosome 6 [18]. Anti-inflammatory treatment may improve the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressants, especially in patients with high baseline levels of inflammation [6]. Increased oxidative stress and increased inflammation are intimately linked, and NAC has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [6]. NAC has immuno-modulation activity, having been demonstrated to reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), IL-6, and IL-10 in rodents [1, 5].

NAC also modulates the glutamatergic system, dysfunction of which is linked to multiple psychiatric disorders [5, 19]. By forming cystine outside the cells, NAC drives the astrocytic cystine–glutamate antiporter, which increases intracellular cysteine for glutathione synthesis and simultaneously extrudes glutamate into the extracellular space [7]. Rising concentrations of extracellular glutamate stimulates presynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptors, which decreases the synaptic release of glutamate [7]. Glutathione may also have a role in regulating glutamate levels in the brain as it has been shown to potentiate brain N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor response to glutamate in rats [7].

NAC has also been demonstrated to alter dopamine release in animal models [7]. At sufficiently high doses, it has been demonstrated to reduce striatal dopamine in rats given amphetamines; however, that same study found that at lower doses NAC increased striatal dopamine release [20]. NAC has also been shown to reduce methamphetamine-induced reduction of dopamine transporters in the striatum of rhesus monkeys [16]. NAC may reduce dopamine through facilitating increased glutathione production, which has a significant role in reducing oxidative stress. Amphetamine use is associated with excessive release of dopamine and suppressed action of dopamine metabolites [20]. Glutathione increases glutamate agonist-evoked striatal dopamine release likely via glutathione’s activity at NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptors [21].

3 Neurodevelopmental Disorders

3.1 Williams Syndrome

Patients with Williams syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by a microdeletion in chromosome 7q11.23, commonly present with neuropsychiatric disorders [22]. A case report is published on the successful treatment with NAC (1800 mg/day) of a 19-year-old female with Williams syndrome who developed anger, aggression, and hair-pulling following a psychotic episode precipitated by a gastroscopy in which she was sedated with fentanyl, midazolam, and propofol [22]. The patient’s behavior improved within 2 days of NAC treatment and she had continued NAC for 14 months by the time of publication [22]. The authors believed NAC was having its effect by normalizing the glutaminergic system, which is abnormal in Williams syndrome and was further altered by propofol [22].

3.2 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

ASD is associated with increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, abnormal glutamate transmission, and serotonin transporter dysfunction, all of which imply a potential therapeutic benefit for NAC [23, 24]. NAC supports mitochondrial metabolism in animal models of ASD and reduces oxidative stress by promoting glutathione production [23, 24].

Animal studies of NAC in ASD have yielded mixed results. Male rats exposed prenatally to valproate in order to phenotypically mimic ASD were treated with NAC (150 mg/kg/day). On dissection, the glutaminergic system in the amygdala of the NAC-treated rats normalized, and their social interactions improved [25]. Mice with deletions of chromosome 16p11.2, which is associated with ASD in humans, exhibited ASD phenotype (slowed hyperlocomotion, reduced sociability, and displayed a strong anxiolytic phenotype) when under stress [26]. A single dose of NAC (150 mg/kg) did not normalize the anxiety-like behaviors but did increase sociability [26]. Conversely, mice treated with a single dose of NAC (150 mg/kg) had a decrease in striatal glutamate, mimicking striatal changes in ASD, and were less active and more anxious [27].

In humans, case studies of NAC (800–2400 mg) suggest increased social behavior, decreased aggression, and decreased self-harm, facilitating lowering of doses of antipsychotics in males with ASD aged 4–17 years [28,29,30,31]. Five [23, 32,33,34,35] randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated NAC as a treatment for ASD in children and adolescents, all of which were included in a meta-analysis published in 2021 [36]. The trials’ interventions lasted from 8 to 24 weeks, had 31–102 participants (combined N = 256), and 500–4200 mg/day [36]. The meta-analysis found that NAC significantly improved Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC) total scores, and irritability and hyperactivity subscales compared to placebo; however, it found no significant improvement in the social responsiveness scale or the repetitive behavior scale compared to placebo [36]. However, the largest study could not be included in this analysis as it did not use the ABC as an outcome [35]. That study was the largest (102 participants) and longest (24 weeks) randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted so far on NAC treating ASD and did not demonstrate any benefit for NAC over placebo, although it used a much smaller dose of NAC (500 mg/day) and had a more heterogeneous population [35].

Currently the limited evidence available indicates that NAC may be a useful treatment for irritability and hyperactivity in severe autism but this is yet to be demonstrated in well-powered, longer trials (see Table 1).

3.3 Tourette’s Disorder

NAC may have a role in treating Tourette’s Disorder by regulating the glutaminergic system, which has been implicated in its pathogenesis [37]. There is some evidence for glutaminergic drugs treating trichotillomania and OCD, which share genotypes, phenotypes, and neurological abnormalities with Tourette’s [37]. There is one double-blinded RCT of 31 children aged 8–17 years investigating the effects of NAC (1200 mg/day for the first 1–2 weeks, then 2400 mg a day), which found no significant difference between NAC and placebo [37] (see Table 1).

Table 1 Blinded placebo-controlled trials of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) in neurodevelopmental disorders
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4 Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia may be characterized by neuroprogression, potentially mediated by free radical-mediated neurotoxicity, inflammation, apoptotic pathways, mitochondrial dysfunction, or neurogenesis, against all of which NAC shows preventative action [8]. NAC increases glutathione levels, which are decreased in the cerebrospinal fluid, medial prefrontal cortex, and caudate region of patients with schizophrenia [38]. Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy studies have demonstrated that patients with schizophrenia have altered glutamate and compromised glutathione levels in the prefrontal cortex [9]. A single dose of NAC (at 2400 mg) decreases glutamate in the anterior cingulate cortex in people with schizophrenia [39]. Polymorphisms in the genes involved in glutathione synthesis (glutamate cysteine ligase modifier subunit and the catalytic subunit for glutamate cysteine ligase) are associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia [38]. Abnormalities in the levels of N-acetyl metabolites in the serum are associated with first episode schizophrenia [40]. Glutathione may also have a treatment effect in schizophrenia by modulating NMDA receptor activity. Glutathione deficiency is associated with NMDA receptor hypofunction in rats [41].

In animal models of schizophrenia, NAC has been shown to improve mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, reverse mitochondrial toxicity, reduce apoptosis, and enhance neurogenesis [8, 9].

Deficits in mismatch negativity (MMN), a measurement of NMDA receptor dysfunction by auditory-evoked potentials, are associated with symptoms and poor functioning in patients with schizophrenia [42]. Secondary analysis of 11 participants in Berk et al. [43] found that NAC significantly improved auditory evoked potential by increasing the NMDA-dependent MMN compared to placebo in patients with schizophrenia. However, this finding was not reproduced by an 8-week placebo-controlled RCT (N = 19) that found no difference in MMN between NAC (at 2400 mg a day) compared to placebo [42]. NAC supplementation in patients with schizophrenia may increase neural synchronization on electroencephalography (EEG) [42, 44]. Neural synchronization on EEG is believed to be dependent on NMDA receptor function, which implies NAC’s effect on it occurs via glutamate and the glutathione [42].

There have been eight RCTs examining NAC’s effectiveness as augmentation to antipsychotic therapy, five [38, 41, 45,46,47] of which were included in a meta-analysis published in 2020 [48]. It found that at 8 weeks NAC (at 1000–3600 mg/day) had no significant effect on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores; however, at 24 weeks, NAC showed a significant advantage over placebo in total and negative PANSS scores [48]. This finding reflects the results of individual longer trials that found the effects of NAC were slow to emerge and not statistically significant at 8 weeks of intervention [38, 46]. Of the RCTs not included in that analysis, one was excluded due to missing data and two had not yet been published [48]. The two papers published since the publication of the meta-analysis have had mixed findings; Yang et al. [42] found no effect of NAC on PANSS, whilst Pyatoykina et al. [49] found a significant reduction in negative PANSS and total PANSS compared to placebo. NAC significantly improves working memory [48].

The limited existing literature indicates that NAC may have a role in treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, although this is yet to be demonstrated in well-powered trials (see Table 2). There is currently a large RCT being conducted on NAC’s effect on patients with clozapine-resistant schizophrenia [50]. There is also a case series suggesting NAC may reduce sialorrhea from clozapine, possibly by reducing oxidative stress in the salivary glands [51].

4.1 Early Psychosis

Clinical practice places a strong emphasis on early intervention to prevent or improve the prognosis of psychotic illness. People in the early stages of illness might derive greater benefit from treatment with NAC than those with more entrenched illness where neuroprogression has already occurred. Early stages of schizophrenia are strongly associated with increased frontal hyperconnectivity [52]. A single dose of NAC (2,400 mg) reduces resting functional connectivity in the default mode network and salience network in patients with schizophrenia [53]. Fornix white matter integrity deteriorates in patients with schizophrenia, and NAC supplementation in patients with early psychosis protects fornix white matter integrity, suggesting NAC may protect white matter integrity in early psychosis patients [54]. NAC supplementation also increased functional connectivity along the cingulum bundle in patients with early psychosis compared to placebo (N = 20) [55]. Treatment with NAC has also been shown to improve auditory processing in patients (N = 15) with early psychosis [56].

Clinical trials investigating adjuvant NAC therapy in early psychosis have had mixed results; two studies found that NAC (at 600 mg/day and 3600 mg/day, respectively) significantly decreased PANSS scores [45, 46]. However, the largest study found that NAC (at 2700 mg/day) had no effect on PANSS scores but did increase cognitive speed [47], although subgroup analysis found that low serum glutathione at baseline was significantly associated with improvement in positive PANSS score with NAC treatment. Subgroup analysis of Berk et al. [8] demonstrated that duration of illness was positively associated with treatment effect of NAC on positive symptoms and functioning. There is currently a large RCT being conducted into NAC’s effect on patients with first-episode psychosis [9].

Based on the limited current available evidence, it’s uncertain if NAC has clinical utility in early psychosis. Future, better-powered studies are needed to clarify this (see Table 2).

Table 2 Blinded placebo-controlled trials of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treating schizophrenia
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4.2 The At-Risk Stage of Psychosis

A role for NAC in preventing the onset of psychosis in models of at-risk individuals has been explored. In rats with the neonatal ventral hippocampal model of schizophrenia, oxidative stress caused prefrontal cortex dysfunction [57]. Treatment of these rats with NAC during adolescence and prior to the onset of symptoms prevented the reduction of prefrontal parvalbumin immunoreactive interneuron activity [57].

MMN is reduced in individuals at risk for psychosis compared to healthy controls [58, 59]. Smaller MMN has been found to be associated with a higher likelihood of at-risk individuals to develop psychosis [59]. It is not known if improving MMN in at-risk individuals reduces the likelihood of them developing psychosis, and there is mixed evidence that treatment with NAC improves MMN in patients with schizophrenia [42, 43]. This is a possible area for future investigation.

A small case series (N = 5) of NAC at 2,000 mg/day in at-risk individuals found four participants no longer met the criteria for an at-risk mental state at the end of 12 weeks. NAC treatment also significantly improved scores on Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia and the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale [60]. However, it failed to show a statistically significant improvement in scores on the Scale of Prodromal Symptoms across all participants [60]. A large RCT is currently underway investigating the effect of NAC (2,000 mg/day) and an integrated preventive psychological intervention (IPPI) on preventing conversion to psychosis in at-risk individuals [61]. The study has four arms: IPPI with placebo, IPPI with NAC, psychological stress management alone with NAC, and psychological stress management placebo [61].

5 Bipolar and Related Disorders

The use of antidepressants in bipolar depression is controversial as there is no conclusive evidence for their efficacy and they may precipitate rapid cycling or a manic episode [3]. Psychotherapy also has limited evidence in treating the depressive symptoms of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) [3]. Thus, there is a strong desire for novel therapies for bipolar depression.

BPAD is associated with dysregulated oxidative defenses, and mood stabilizers appear to buffer oxidative defenses and protect neuronal cells from damage related to oxidative stress [3, 63]. A rat model of mania increases brain oxidative stress by administering d-amphetamine [64]. NAC combined with deferoxamine in rat models, protects against protein damage in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex [64]. There is evidence from animal studies that NAC may prevent lithium-induced renal dysfunction [65]. Unfortunately, power and duration requirements suggest that massive and lengthy trials will be needed to definitively confirm this signal in humans, and as such, this lead is likely to remain unexplored.

Multiple clinical trials have investigated NAC in BPAD. The first significant trial was an RCT by Berk et al. published in 2008 that found positive results. It investigated the effects of adjunctive NAC (2000 mg/day) over 28 weeks (24 weeks of intervention and an additional 4 weeks of follow-up) in 74 patients with bipolar disorder (I and II) and found that the NAC group showed significant improvement in the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Bipolar Depression Rating Scale (BDRS) at 24 weeks compared to placebo [66]. Secondary analysis of this paper found that NAC significantly reduced suicidal ideation as measured on the MADRS and BDRS; however, it had no significant effect on cognitive functioning compared to placebo [67, 68]. Secondary analysis also suggested that NAC may reduce manic symptoms [69]. Subgroup analysis of patients with bipolar disorder II in the sample did not demonstrate that NAC was superior to placebo on MADRS or BDRS scores; however, six out of seven participants in the NAC group achieved full remission of both depressive and manic symptoms, whilst two out of the seven participants in the placebo group did the same [70]. A future better powered study is needed to explore this further.

These findings have been replicated in a smaller RCT that ran over 24 weeks [71]. However, the findings were not replicated in a Danish RCT investigating the effects of adjunctive NAC (3,000 mg/day) over 24 weeks (20 weeks of intervention and an additional 4 weeks of follow-up) in 80 patients with bipolar disorder (I and II), which found no significant improvement MADRS and a clinically insignificant but statistically significant Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) improvement in NAC compared to placebo at 20 weeks [72]. A change greater than four is generally considered clinically significant on the YMRS, whereas the change was 1.6 (confidence interval 3.1–0.2) in the study [72]. Another large study of three adjunctive treatment groups—NAC (2,000 mg/day), combination nutraceutical treatment (including NAC at 200 mg/day), and placebo—with an intervention period of 16 weeks and follow-up at 20 weeks found no significant difference at 16 weeks [15]. However, the nutraceutical group showed significant improvement in MADRS, BDRS, and quality-of-life scores at 20 weeks, implying a delayed treatment effect [15].

Another large (149 participants) 24-week maintenance RCT demonstrated that NAC (at 2,000 mg/day) significantly delayed the onset of a depressive episode in patients with bipolar disorder [65], although it too failed to recreate the positive findings of the 2008 study, as there was no significant difference in symptom rating scales at the end of the intervention [65]. This trial was preceded by an 8-week single-arm open-label run-in phase with all participants of the double-blind RCT, which demonstrated NAC (2,000 mg/day) to have significant improvement in MADRS and BDRS compared to baseline [3]. Secondary analyses of NAC’s effects on biological markers of inflammation found it had no significant effect on serum levels of C-reactive protein (BDNF), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, or C-reactive protein (CRP) [73].

The anti-inflammatory effects of NAC in treating bipolar depression have been studied further. A Brazilian RCT of 67 patients with both bipolar and unipolar depression found that NAC significantly reduced CRP over 12 weeks compared to placebo [6]. It also found that NAC significantly reduced depression and anxiety ratings from baseline, but not compared to placebo, in patients with CRP > 3 mg/L [6]. The anti-inflammatory effects of NAC in treating bipolar depression were also investigated in a very small four-arm study of 24 patients treated with NAC (at 1,000 mg/day), aspirin, both, or placebo for 16 weeks, which found that the NAC and aspirin treatment arm had a higher probability of treatment response [74]. Subgroup analyses of Berk et al. found that in participants who self-reported cardiovascular or endocrine conditions, NAC showed significant improvement compared to placebo in functioning (as measured on the Global Assessment of Functioning, SOFAS, and LIFE-RIFT scales) but not depressive symptoms [75].

An open-label study investigated the effects of NAD (2,400 mg/day) for 8 weeks in nine adolescents (aged 15–24 years) with depressive symptoms and a first-degree relative with BPAD I, finding a significant reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms (measured on HDRS and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HARS)) from baseline [76]. Symptom improvement was significantly correlated with a change in glutamate levels in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex from baseline as seen on MR spectroscopy [76].

In summary, although initial results demonstrated NAC as superior to placebo in the treatment of bipolar depression, especially in Berk et al. [66], these results have not been consistently reproduced. A meta-analysis of five RCTs [15, 65, 71, 72, 74] examining NAC for BPAD depression published in 2021 found that NAC did not demonstrate any significant improvement in all outcomes measured [77]. However, a contemporaneous meta-analysis of six RCTs [6, 15, 66, 72, 74] did suggest significant benefit on symptoms of depression (as measured on HDRS and MADRS) [78]. NAC could currently not be recommended for clinical use in BPAD and further better powered studies are needed to provide more clarity (see Table 3).

Table 3 Blinded placebo-controlled trials of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treating bipolar disorder
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6 Depressive Disorders

Unipolar depression is associated with several oxidative disturbances, including oxidative damage in erythrocytes, elevated antioxidant enzymes (particularly superoxide dismutase) in peripheral tissues that reduce with antidepressant therapy, and significant oxidative stress seen in the frontal lobe on brain biopsy in patients with depression [12]. It is thought that NAC’s antidepressant effects are in part the result of easing oxidative stress by increasing glutathione levels [2]. NAC may also have antidepressant effects through its anti-inflammatory properties and by increasing extracellular glutamate levels [2, 6]. The anti-inflammatory effects of NAC may be particularly important in treatment-resistant depression [63].

In animal studies, NAC reduces immobility time during forced swim tests on rats [2]. In male Wistar rats that underwent bulbectomy (removal of the olfactory bulbs), which is a model for depression, chronic administration of NAC had a similar effect to that of imipramine [11].

Clinical studies have shown mixed results. A large RCT with 269 participants found that NAC (at 2000 mg/day) showed a modest but significant improvement in MADRS scores at 16 weeks’ follow-up (intervention having ceased at 12 weeks) compared to placebo [79]. As with other antidepressants, there was an indication of greater effects in those with more severe depression (MADRS score > 24) [79]. They also found significant improvement in the functioning measures of Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation-Range of Impaired Functioning Tool (LIFE-RIFT) and Streamlined Longitudinal Interview Clinical Evaluation from the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation (SLICE-LIFE) [79]. MR spectroscopy of a subgroup in that study found higher glutamate-glutamine and N-acetyl-aspartate and lower myo-inositol levels were predictive of the patient being in the NAC treatment arm [80]. Higher glutamate-glutamine and N-acetyl-aspartate was predictive of lowered oxidative stress [80]. A large RCT is currently investigating the effect of NAC augmenting antidepressant therapy in treatment-resistant depression [63].

Secondary analysis of the effect of NAC on depressive symptoms of a trial investigating NAC (2,400 mg/day) treating cannabis use disorder in 74 adolescents for 8 weeks, found that NAC had no effect on depressive symptoms as measured on the Beck Depression Inventory second edition (BDI-II) [81]. However, in the NAC treatment arm, higher baseline depressive symptoms were predictive of cannabis cessation [81]. Secondary analysis of the effect of NAC on depressive symptoms in a trial investigating NAC (2,400 mg/day) treating cannabis use disorder in 302 adults (18–50 years of age) for 12 weeks with an additional 4 weeks follow-up found that NAC had no effect on depressive symptoms as measured on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) nor was it more effective in promoting cannabis cessation in participants with higher baseline depressive symptoms [82].

A meta-analysis of seven RCTs investigating adjunctive NAC therapy in treating unipolar or bipolar depression found that NAC significantly improved functioning as measured on Clinical Global Impression Scales-Severity (CGI-S) compared to placebo, but on no other measures of functioning (including SLICE-LIFE, Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), and LIFE-RIFT), nor was it found to significantly improve depression and anxiety symptom rating scales compared to placebo [83].

In summary, there has been one RCT investigating NAC in unipolar depression alone that showed a modest but significant result (see Table 4). Further, longer, and better-powered studies are needed before it can be advised to be used clinically.

Table 4 Blinded placebo-controlled trials of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treating depressive disorders
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7 Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are associated with oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and glutamatergic hyperactivity [84]. It is unclear if NAC’s anti-anxiolytic effects are mediated through glutamate modulation, its antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory properties, or all three. In mice, increased microglial activation (inflammation, phagocytosis, blood–brain barrier breakdown, and elevated 2-OH-estradiol production) was correlated with increased oxidative stress and increased anxiety behaviors [85]. In that model, NAC reduced both oxidative stress and anxiety behaviors [85]. NAC also reduced hippocampal oxidative stress and anxiety behaviors in rats [86]. NAC reduced anxiety behaviors as measured by the open field, light/dark, hole-board, social interaction, and stress-induced hyperthermia models in mice and the light/dark test in zebrafish [87, 88]. In zebrafish, 7 days of NAC treatment reversed the behavioral and physiological effects of 14 days of chronic stress [89].

Cisplatin, which is commonly used in oncology, has neurotoxic anxiogenic effects mediated by increased oxidative stress [90]. In rats, augmenting cisplatin with NAC reduced hippocampal oxidative stress and cisplatin-induced apoptosis [90]. However, an RCT investigation using cisplatin augmentation with NAC (600 mg/day for 7 days) in 57 patients (28 NAC arm, 29 placebo) treated with cisplatin for head and neck cancer found that NAC did not reduce oxidative stress as measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [91]. It should be noted, however, that the dose of NAC in this paper was low and the length of treatment was short compared to other studies with positive results, and they did not measure anxiety as an outcome [91]. The study did demonstrate that NAC did not alter the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin, suggesting that future investigations in cancer would be safe [91].

There has been one published case report of NAC (at 2,400 mg/day) as an augmentation to sertraline in treating a 17-year-old male with generalized anxiety disorder and social phobia resulting in a reduction in his CGI-S from 5 to 2 over an 8-week period [92].

In summary, whilst there is some preclinical evidence and theoretical explanation for NAC’s potential treatment in anxiety disorders, there have been no controlled trials investigating NAC treating any anxiety disorders to date.

8 Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (OCRD)

8.1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with hyperactivity in the cortico-striato-thalamic-cortical region, abnormal glutamate metabolism, and glutamatergic system abnormalities [93]. High levels of glutamate can result in excitotoxicity and oxidative stress, which have been found in patients with OCD [93]. NAC is thought to have a possible therapeutic effect on OCD by modulating glutamate and easing oxidative stress [93].

In animal studies, NAC has been shown to reduce OCD-like behaviors [94, 95]. There have been five case reports/series published studying NAC in treating OCD. Target doses ranged from 1800–3000 mg/day and results varied from no effect to substantial improvement [96,97,98,99,100,101].

There have been six RCTs investigating NAC treating OCD, four with NAC as adjuvant therapy to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and two as single therapy, with doses ranging from 2000 to 3000 mg/day [102,103,104,105,106,107]. Five of those RCTs were included in a meta-analysis published in 2020 that found that NAC significantly reduced Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) scores compared to placebo [108]. However, the effect of NAC was not substantial, and only two papers demonstrated a greater than 35% reduction in the YBOCS score, which is indicative of clinical improvement of OCD patients [108]. The RCT not included in the meta-analysis investigated adjuvant NAC (2,700 mg/day) treatment of 11 patients with OCD aged 8–17 years and found a significant reduction in YBOCS compared to placebo [107].

In summary, NAC may be effective in treating OCD; however, the extent of its effect may be too small to warrant use. Given the signs from mood and psychotic disorders of delayed effects, longer studies need to be conducted (see Table 5).

8.2 Trichotillomania

Given trichotillomania’s phenomenological links to OCD, it was suspected that glutamatergic dysfunction is implicated in its pathogenesis, as it is with OCD [109]. Trichotillomania’s classification as an OCRD reflects this [110]. This theory was supported by a small study of 14 participants with trichotillomania, in which five participants had lower than the standard range serum glutathione level, which was correlated with higher motor impulsiveness on the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale [111].

There have been multiple case reports of successful treatment of trichotillomania with NAC, with target doses ranging from 1200 to 2400 mg/day and treatments lasting for as long 6 months [112,113,114,115,116,117,118,119]. However, only two RCTs have been published on NAC treating trichotillomania, and both were 12-week placebo-controlled trials with target doses of 2400 mg/day [109, 120]. Grant, Odlaug, and Kim studied 50 adult participants (45 female) and found that NAC significantly reduced Massachusetts General Hospital Hair Pulling Scale (MGH-HPS) scores compared to placebo [109]. Bloch et al. studied 39 adolescents aged 8–17 years (34 female) and found no significant difference in MGH-HPS scores compared to placebo [120]. A meta-analysis of these two RCTs published in 2020 concluded that NAC was significantly superior to placebo in treating trichotillomania seen on MGH-HPS [121].

In summary, there have been only two controlled studies investigating NAC treating trichotillomania and results have been mixed. From the evidence available it appears NAC may be useful in treating trichotillomania; however, better powered studies are required before it can be recommended clinically (see Table 5).

8.3 Excoriation Disorder

Excoriation disorder is also classified as an OCRD [110]. NAC might again treat skin-picking disorders by decreasing levels of glutamate in the NA, assisting the control of compulsive behavior [122]. There are several case reports (N = 10) published of NAC successfully treating skin-picking disorders, with doses ranging from 1200 to 1800 mg/day [29, 112, 115, 119, 122,123,124].

There have been two interventional studies investigating NAC treating excoriation disorders; an open-label trial in 35 participants with Prader-Willi syndrome and a blinded RCT of 66 participants [125, 126]. Miller and Angulo treated 35 participants with Prader-Willi syndrome and skin-picking behavior with NAC, with doses ranging from 450 to 1,200 mg/day (the paper did not explain how doses were arrived at) for 12 weeks [126]. All participants had a reduction in skin picking (measured by the number of lesions on their skin) and 25 had a complete cessation of skin-picking behavior [126]. Grant et al. is the only RCT investigating NAC in treating skin-picking behavior; 66 participants were treated with NAC (target dose 3000 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks [125]. Participants treated with NAC had significant and substantial improvements in the skin-picking behavior as measured on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for Neurotic Excoriation (NE-YBOCS) and clinical global impressions-improvement (CGI-I) and CGI-S scales compared to those treated with placebo [125].

In summary, there has been one controlled study investigating NAC treating excoriation disorder that found a significant effect. From the evidence available it appears NAC may be useful in treating excoriation disorder; however, better powered studies are required before it can be recommended clinically (see Table 5).

8.4 Onychophagia

Onychophagia is also classified as an OCRD [110]. It is thought that NAC may reduce nail biting by modulating the glutamatergic system within the nucleus accumbens (NA), altering the subjective feeling of cravings and by reducing oxidative stress [112, 127]. There are four case reports (N = 6) published on NAC treating nail biting, with treatment doses ranging from 800 to 2000 mg/day [28, 112, 119, 127]. The one RCT investigating NAC (800 mg/day) treating onychophagia in 42 children (aged 6–18 years) found that those treated with NAC had significantly longer nails compared to placebo at 1 month; however, this difference was no longer significant at 2 months [128].

In summary, as with the other OCRDs, there have been very few controlled studies (one) investigating NAC treating onychophagia disorder (see Table 5). The one RCT published found no evidence of NAC’s potential in treating onychophagia; however, better powered studies are required (see Table 5).

Table 5 Blinded placebo-controlled trials of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treating obsessive-compulsive and related disorders
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9 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

In post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), people exhibit hypoactive executive functioning and hyperactive fear circuitry activity secondary to increased oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, and stress-related adaptations at glutamatergic synapses [129, 130]. Glutathione is dysregulated in patients with PTSD [131]. By facilitating glutathione production, NAC may ease oxidative stress in PTSD, normalizing corticostriatal glutamate transmission and reducing levels of inflammatory cytokines [129, 131].

A small (35 participants) double-blinded RCT investigated NAC (2,400 mg/day) combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for substance-use disorders (SUDs) in the treatment of PTSD and co-occurring SUD (81.5% alcohol-use disorder) in US veterans. There was a significant difference between NAC and placebo on self-rated PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist-Military (PCL-M)) and the BDI-II during the intervention but not at 1 month after the cessation of intervention [129]. There are two larger RCTs currently underway investigating NAC in PTSD: one in Australia, aiming for 126 participants, using 2,700 mg/day [131], and another in the USA, treating PTSD and co-morbid alcohol-use disorder aiming for 200 participants using 2,400 mg/day [132].

In summary, current limited evidence does not indicate NAC is effective in treating PTSD, but two large RCTs currently underway will hopefully shed further light on this (see Table 6).

Table 6 Blinded placebo-controlled trials of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treating post-traumatic stress disorder
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10 Substance-Use Disorders

Chronic substance use results in changes to frontostriatal glutamatergic circuitry, resulting in compulsive alcohol/drug seeking and loss of adaptive behavior in the presence of substance-associated environmental or interoceptive stimuli [133]. NAC may assist in the treatment of SUD through glutamatergic reorganization [134]. Through direct effects on cysteine/glutamate exchange and by promoting astroglial glutamate uptake, which are reduced in animal models of SUD, NAC restores the homeostatic relationship in glutamate transport and release between neurons and astroglia. The action of NAC in the nucleus accumbens reduces substance-associated intrusive thoughts (e.g., cravings or urges to use), thereby allowing more adaptive behaviors to emerge to help maintain abstinence from use [135]. In a rat model, NAC reduced stress-induced alcohol use and cue-related reinstatement of alcohol, heroin, nicotine, cannabis, and cocaine use [136]. In functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, NAC normalizes frontostriatal glutamate and prevents tobacco cravings [137].

Secondary analysis of Berk et al. [66], which investigated NAC (2000 mg/day) over 28 weeks (24 weeks of intervention and an additional 4 weeks of follow-up) in 74 patients with bipolar disorder found that NAC had no significant effect on substance use in that patient cohort [138]. A recent meta-analysis of RCTs investigating NAC’s effect on substance use found that NAC had a small but statistically significant effect on reducing craving scores, although significant heterogeneity between trials was noted [139].

10.1 Alcohol

There is preclinical evidence that NAC may reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. In rat models of alcohol withdrawal, NAC administration ameliorates the reduced motivation and increased anxiety, and prevents serum corticosteroid and leptin rise seen post alcohol cessation [140]. In a mouse study, NAC prevented delta FosB accumulation in the medial prefrontal cortex, thereby reducing nucleus accumbens neuroadaptations, craving and relapse seen in chronic alcohol use [141]. NAC also reduces ethanol intake in abstinent but ethanol-dependent rats [142].

To date there have been no clinical trials published that directly investigate NAC in treating alcohol-use disorder. A study of US veterans with PTSD and SUD (of whom 82% had alcohol-use disorder) found that NAC (at 2400 mg/day) significantly reduced craving compared to placebo [129]. Secondary analysis on alcohol consumption in participants of a trial investigating NAC (at 2400 mg/day) in treating cannabis dependence in adolescents found that NAC had no effect on alcohol consumption [143]. However, in the NAC treatment group a reduction in cannabis use was associated with a reduction in alcohol use where no such association was found in the placebo group [143]. Secondary analysis on alcohol consumption in participants in a trial investigating NAC in treating cannabis dependence in adults found that NAC was significantly associated with a reduction in alcohol use but was not related to changes in cannabis use [144]. In a trial of 49 volunteers, there was no benefit of NAC (at 600–1,800 mg) in prevention of alcohol-induced hangover, although post hoc analysis suggested a benefit in females [145]. There is an RCT currently underway in Australia investigating NAC (at 2,400 mg/day) for the treatment of alcohol-use disorder [146].

10.2 Cannabis

NAC prevents cue-induced tetrahydrocannabinol- and cannabidiol-seeking behavior in rat models [147]. An open-label study of 24 cannabis-dependent youths investigating NAC (2,400 mg/day) for 4 weeks found a significant decrease in self-reported cannabis use from baseline; however, urine studies in the same group did not confirm this [148]. There was also a significant reduction in three out of four domains on the marijuana craving questionnaire (MCQ) [148]. An Indian retrospective cohort study (72 participants) that compared standard treatment, NAC (at a mean dose of 1,800 mg/day), and baclofen combined with standard treatment, found that NAC and standard treatment was significantly associated with a longer period of abstinence compared to placebo and baclofen [149]. However, that trial was open label and relied on patient self-report of cannabis use [149].

A large (116 participants) follow-up 8-week RCT found that NAC (2,400 mg) combined with contingency management and cessation counseling, significantly reduced cannabis use (as measured in urine) compared to placebo with the same interventions [150]. This difference wasn’t present at the 4-week post-intervention follow-up; however, this was likely to have been influenced by significant dropout [150]. Adherence to NAC was assessed by calculating the number of pills left in the blister packs. This was associated with negative urine tests, while adherence to placebo had no effect on abstinence [151]. These findings were not replicated in a large (302 participants) 12-week RCT that failed to show that NAC (2,400 mg/day) combined with contingency management was superior to placebo and contingency management in achieving abstinence from cannabis in adults [152]. In the adolescent study, higher baseline depressive symptoms were predictive of cannabis cessation, which was also not replicated in the follow-up study of adults [81, 82].

10.3 Opioids

Glutamatergic neurotransmission drives opioid-seeking behaviors [153]. Thus, medications that alter the functioning of glutamatergic synapses may reduce the reinforcing effects of opioids. In a rat study, NAC reduced cue- and heroin-induced drug-seeking behavior [154]. These effects continued for up to 40 days post cessation of NAC [154]. The finding that NAC reduces cue-related heroin seeking has been reproduced in another rat study [155]. However, to date there have been no clinical trials investigating NAC in treating opioid-use disorders.

10.4 Amphetamines

NAC has not been found to reduce methamphetamine self-administration and produced no effect on [156] or decreased [157] reinstatement in rats. However, it may reduce the neurotoxic effects of chronic amphetamine use. Chronic methamphetamine use results in loss of dopamine transporter expression in the striatum [16]. Rhesus monkeys that were given intravenous NAC prior to methamphetamine administration preserved significantly more dopamine transporter in their striatum, as seen on positron emission tomography [16].

A small RCT (31 participants) found that NAC combined with naltrexone had no significant effect on cravings or methamphetamine use compared to placebo [158]. Participants were commenced on a very low dose (NAC 600 mg/day and naltrexone 50 mg/day), which was increased every 2 weeks if they had continued drug use and cravings [158]. This methodology shortened the amount of time that participants were on a potentially effective NAC dose in an already short study. A small (23 participants) and brief (8-week) Iranian crossover trial in which participants were given 4 weeks of NAC (600 mg/day for the first week then 1,200 mg/day) or placebo, then switched, found that NAC was associated with a significant reduction in cravings scores. Switching from NAC to placebo was, however, associated with a significant increase in cravings [159]. A large (153 participants) 12-week RCT in Australia investigating NAC (2,400 mg/day) treating methamphetamine dependence found no significant difference between NAC and placebo in all measures including craving and amphetamine use [160].

10.5 Cocaine

A study of rats demonstrated that repeated cocaine use is associated with reduced firing rates of glutamatergic projections from the medial prefrontal cortex to the nucleus accumbens [161]. In rats, repeated cocaine use decreases extracellular glutamate levels in the nucleus accumbens, and reinstatement post cessation of use increases levels [162]. NAC normalized these changes and inhibited cocaine reinstatement [162]. These findings have been replicated in humans. A spectroscopy study demonstrated that cocaine dependence was associated with an elevated glutamate to phosphocreatine ratio in the left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, which was normalized by a single 2,400 mg dose of NAC [163]. This was replicated in a crossover trial (1 week of intervention with 12 participants) that found that NAC (3,600 mg/day) significantly reduced glutamate and glutamine levels in the rostral anterior cingulate [164]. However, this finding was not replicated in an RCT (38 participants) that found that NAC (2,400 mg/day for 25 days) did not significantly reduce glutamate and glutamine levels in the dorsal rostral anterior cingulate compared to placebo [165].

In rat models, NAC prevents cue-induced relapse and reduces cocaine-induced increases in drug seeking [136, 166, 167]. However, again in human trials NAC has had mixed results. A 1-week crossover trial with 12 participants found that NAC (3,600 mg/day) reduced cocaine-induced cocaine-seeking behaviors [164], whilst a small RCT (38 participants) found that NAC had no effect on cue-induced craving or reactivity [168].

NAC has been investigated as a treatment for cocaine-use disorder. The first human trial of NAC as a treatment for cocaine use disorder was in 2006, a small (13 participants) and brief (3 days of intervention) crossover trial that demonstrated the safety and tolerability of NAC [169]. NAC (2,400 mg over 36 h) found no significant reduction in craving for cocaine as measured by the Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment [169]. NAC significantly reduced cocaine cue-related cravings as measured on reactions to slides shown to participants [170]. A small (four participants) brief (4 days) single-arm study found that NAC (1,200–2,400 mg/day) significantly reduced craving post cocaine administration from baseline; however, NAC did not affect the subjective euphoric effects of cocaine [166].

NAC has not significantly reduced cravings for cocaine compared to placebo in RCTs [171, 172]. However, subanalysis of participants who had already achieved abstinence (17 participants) found that NAC significantly increased the time to relapse of use and reduced cravings in a dose-respondent manner, suggesting a potential effect of NAC in preventing relapse of cocaine use in people with cocaine dependence who have already achieved abstinence [171].

10.6 Tobacco

Nicotine dependence results in glutamatergic adaptations in brain areas associated with reinforcement [173]. It is thought that NAC’s antioxidant properties, both increasing glutathione and modulating the glutamatergic system, could reverse the neuroplastic alterations associated with nicotine dependence and assist with smoking cessation [174]. NAC reduces nicotine-conditioned place preference and withdrawal signs in nicotine-dependent mice [175]. NAC seems more effective in reducing nicotine-seeking behavior in male than female rats [176]. It is thought that this may be secondary to the effects of estrogen and progesterone on nicotine seeking [176].

A small RCT (29 participants) investigating NAC (2,400 mg/day) in treating nicotine dependence failed to show a significant reduction in cigarette use in the NAC group compared to placebo at 4 weeks [173]. There was also no significant reduction in craving rating scales [173]. These findings were replicated by a small RCT (28 participants) that found that 12 weeks of NAC (1200–3000 mg/day) did not significantly reduce smoking (as measured on the Fagerström-Test for Nicotine Dependence) compared to placebo [177]. Although there was a difference at 6 weeks of intervention, this had disappeared by 12 weeks [177]. A single-arm open-label study demonstrated that NAC (2,400 mg/day) and varenicline are well tolerated when taken together and demonstrated a significant reduction in cigarettes smoked from baseline [178]. A 12-week similarly sized RCT (34 participants) found no significant difference between NAC (3,000 mg/day) and placebo on smoking levels [179]. A similar 2-week RCT (48 participants) also found no significant difference between NAC (2,400 mg/day) and placebo on smoking levels, cravings scores, carbon monoxide levels, and anterior cingulate cortex glutamate, glutamine and glutathione on spectroscopy [180]. A large RCT is currently underway investigating the effects of NAC (1,800 mg/day) compared to placebo in ceasing tobacco use [174].

Studies looking at NAC’s effect on reducing craving and relapse in tobacco users who are already abstinent have likewise not shown promising results. A very brief (4 days at 3,600 mg/day), small (22 participants) RCT found no significant reduction in ratings scales [181]. In this study, participants were instructed not to smoke during the 4-day trial period and there was a significant difference between the NAC and placebo group in the rating of the reward felt from the first cigarette post abstinence, with the NAC group rating it as considerably less rewarding than the placebo group [181]. In a similarly brief (4 days at 2,400 mg/day) and small (16 participants) placebo-controlled RCT, NAC was associated with significantly lower craving scores, lower carbon monoxide values, and using fMRI, stronger resting-state functional connectivity in four striatal pathways between right nucleus accumbens and left medial prefrontal cortex and bilateral precuneus, and between the left nucleus accumbens and ventromedial prefrontal cortex and bilateral cerebellum [137]. Resting-state functional connectivity in all four striatal pathways were negatively correlated with carbon monoxide levels, and three of them were negatively correlated with cravings [137].

10.7 Pregabalin

Pregabalin, a medication primarily prescribed for nerve pain, has the potential for being abused [182]. Pretreatment with NAC reduced pregabalin-seeking behaviors in mice, suggesting it could possibly have a role in treating pregabalin abuse [182].

10.8 Gambling

A small open-label study (27 participants) demonstrated that NAC (600–1,800 mg/day) significantly reduced the severity of gambling symptoms from baseline, as measured on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Modified for Pathological Gambling (PG-YBOCS) [183]. Then, 13 of the 16 responders participated in a 6-week placebo-controlled RCT that failed to show a significant improvement in NAC compared to placebo [183]. However, another small RCT (28 participants) found that 12 weeks of NAC (1,200–3,000 mg/day) and psychotherapy significantly reduced gambling severity (as measured on the PG-YBOCS) at 24 weeks’ follow-up (12 weeks post cessation of intervention) compared to placebo and therapy [177]. This difference was not present at the end of the intervention at week 12, suggesting a delayed effect of NAC [177]. This pattern has also been seen in studies investigating NAC’s effect on bipolar disorder and schizophrenia [38, 46].

10.9 Non-Suicidal Self Injury

Self-harm may be conceptualized as an addictive behavior in that it relieves a negative affective state and provides negative reinforcement (in the form of endogenous opioids release) where people experience strong urges to engage in self-harm behaviors. It is a habitual behavior that is difficult to cease [184, 185]. If self-harming has elements of addiction, then people who engage in self-harm may have impaired functioning of the mesocortical dopamine reward system, endogenous opioid systems, and an overactive stress system [184]. Thus, normalizing the glutamatergic system and easing oxidative stress may reduce the urge to self-harm. A case study was published in which a 17-year-old female was treated with NAC (1,800 mg/day) resulting in a reduction in the frequency of self-harming by cutting and reduction in the symptoms of her attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression [186].

A non-blinded, single-arm study of 35 female adolescents treated with NAC (initially 1,200 mg/day increased to 4,600 mg/day over the study) demonstrated a significant decrease in the frequency of self-harm [185]. A follow-up RCT is currently being conducted that will first determine the dose of NAC that meaningfully changes levels of glutathione and glutamate in the brain (as measured on MR spectroscopy) and then will investigate the effect of NAC on self-harm in adolescent females [187].

In summary, there have been multiple small RCTs investigating NAC in treating SUDs, with the majority demonstrating no significant improvement with NAC compared to placebo (see Table 7). Due to NAC’s theoretical treatment effect being through the reduction of craving, future studies may have to focus on patient populations that have already achieved abstinence. Future studies may also have to be longer given the evidence that NAC’s treatment effects are slow to emerge.

Table 7 Blinded placebo-controlled trials of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treating substance-use disorders and addictive behaviors
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11 Neurocognitive Disorders

Oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis are associated with the process of neuroprogression in several disorders leading to cognitive decline [188]. Memory impairments secondary to neuroinflammation may be due to the hippocampus being particularly vulnerable to the effects of neuroinflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokines [188]. In cell studies, NAC suppresses the TNF-induced activation of nuclear factor κB, which is thought to be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease [189, 190].

Oxidative stress is associated with the pathology of traumatic neurological damage from surgery, sports, and explosions [188]. Thus, NAC may have a role in reducing the severity of traumatic brain injuries. Several preclinical models confirm the potential veracity of this notion. An RCT of 81 actively serving US military members in Iraq explored this topic [191]. All participants had mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and were treated with 7 days of NAC (3,000 mg/day); it was found that NAC was associated with significant improvement in trail-making tests and reduced symptoms of TBI compared to placebo [191].

NAC has been studied for its potential pro-cognitive effects in multiple patient populations from the well to patients with severe dementia. A 6-month RCT of 47 participants investigating NAC (50 mg/kg/day) in treating symptoms in people with probable Alzheimer’s disease found that NAC was associated with significantly better letter fluency at 6 months compared to placebo [192]. A 6-week RCT of 40 participants investigating NAC (1,800 mg/day) and physical exercise in treating muscle strength in people above the age of 65 years with no diagnosis of cognitive impairment had serum inflammatory markers and cognitive tests (trail-making test and digit symbol substitution test) as secondary outcomes [193]. Whilst there were no significant differences between the placebo and NAC groups in cognitive tests, NAC showed improvement in cognitive tests from baseline, where placebo did not [193]. The NAC group also showed lower serum TNF-α levels compared to placebo [193].

The effects of NAC on cognition have been investigated in multiple trials that pair NAC with other nutraceuticals. A small (21 participants) open-label study of nutraceutical therapy (including NAC at 1,200 mg/day) for 12 months found that nutraceutical therapy significantly improved cognition compared to baseline [194]. A small (12 participants) RCT that compared 9 months of nutraceutical therapy (which included NAC at 1,200 mg/day) for moderate- to late-stage Alzheimer’s disease found no significant effect of nutraceutical therapy compared to placebo [195]. However, this study had a small sample size and high attrition, reducing the reliability of its results [195]. A larger follow-up double-blind RCT demonstrated that nutraceuticals (including NAC at 1,200 mg/day) significantly improved cognitive performance (measured on Clox-1) compared to baseline but not compared to placebo [196]. Another small (30 participants) double-blind crossover trial that investigated nutraceutical therapy (including NAC at 400 mg/day) found that NAC significantly improved subscales of neurocognitive assessments and the brief symptom inventory [197]. Nutraceutical therapy was also associated with improved regional cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex, anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, and cerebellum [197].

NAC’s effect on cognition has also been investigated in secondary analyses of other papers. NAC was found to have no significant effect on performance in working memory tasks by cocaine users [180]. Likewise, NAC was found to have no significant effect on cognition in patients with bipolar disorder compared to placebo [67]. However, NAC was shown to significantly improve working memory in patients with schizophrenia [43].

In summary, NAC may have potential in treating cognitive deficits in those with TBI and neurodegenerative disorders; however, the heterogeneity of the neurocognitive disorders makes it difficult to discuss them as a whole (see Table 8). More research needs to be conducted, especially given the increased demand for treatment of traumatic-induced cognitive difficulties from sport and neurodegenerative disorders, and due to the increased aging population, this represents an area where NAC may have high clinical relevance.

Table 8 Blinded placebo-controlled trials of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treating neurocognitive disorders
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12 Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is heterogeneous; however, some chronic pain states are associated with increased oxidative stress [198]. All types of chronic pain involve the development of nociceptive sensitization [14]. Pain transmission is amplified across the entire “pain matrix” increasing the perceptive, cognitive, and emotional aspects of pain [14]. Chronic pain and depression often coexist and the “pain matrix” is associated with mood regulation and stress resilience [14]. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGlu2) receptors are involved in the “pain matrix” and downregulate pain transmission [14].

Animal studies have shown that NAC can reduce pain in inflammatory and neuropathic pain models by increasing mGlu2 receptor activation [199]. NAC may also assist neuropathic pain by the activation of type-9 matrix metalloprotease and the decreased phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in the spinal cord [14]. In animal models, NAC reduces diabetic neuropathic pain by modulating calcium influx in the dorsal root ganglion transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 2 (TRPM2) channel and reducing oxidative stress [200].

There have been multiple RCTs examining NAC’s effects on chronic pain, from multiple origins, with mixed results [198]. A meta-analysis of nine studies (five of which were RCTs) published in 2021 found no significant effect of NAC in treating chronic pain [198]. The meta-analysis was hampered by the small scale of the studies, interstudy heterogeneity, and different assessment tools being used across studies [198].

Due to the heterogeneity of chronic pain it is difficult to discuss it as a single entity. The evidence currently indicates that NAC has a limited role in its treatment; however, further better powered studies are needed.

13 Discussion

There is ample preclinical evidence and theoretical justification for NAC’s treatment of multiple psychiatric disorders. However, there is a paucity of clinical trials in most disorders, and those trials that have been undertaken usually have small numbers of participants and are often brief (see Table 9). This is an important point as there is a suggestion across the examined trials that the benefits of NAC are delayed or late to emerge, requiring upwards of 6 months in some studies. Initial early studies of NAC in many psychiatric disorders have shown promising results that have not been consistently replicated by larger studies. This pattern is seen across autism, bipolar disorder, and SUDs. The paucity of studies, many of which are poorly powered, likely drives these mixed results. However, there are multiple unknowns remaining in studying NAC.

Table 9 Summary of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)’s treatment of psychiatric disorders
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The effective treating dose of NAC remains unknown and the majority of papers have attempted to estimate the required dose based on previous studies. It is possible that some studies investigated NAC at subtherapeutic doses. Many published papers have slowly up-titrated NAC resulting in many interventions being at a low dose. Given that there is evidence that NAC needs to be administered for several months to have a treatment effect in mood disorders and schizophrenia, short trials with slow dose titration may be particularly unreliable [43]. Given that in animal studies NAC has been found to have divergent effect at lower doses and at higher doses (increasing striatal dopamine at lower doses and decreasing at higher doses), a trial with too low a treatment dose could have misleading results [20]. NAC’s delayed effect may be due to its mechanism of action being through neuro-regenerative pathways, which would be a slow process [43]. The next generation of trials may need to have a considerably longer duration.

Several studies noted that blinding NAC can be difficult due to its strong and distinctive sulfur odor [37]. Many attempted to obscure this by masking the scent or placing a small amount of NAC in the placebo. However, very few of the studies documented the success of blinding, with three notable exceptions [37, 120, 137]. It is possible that the breaking of blind is a source of bias in some papers.

Heterogeneity in measurements of efficacy and diagnosis is also a factor preventing replication of results. The lack of consensus about which efficacy measurements are the best to use has resulted in high variance in measurement tools across trials. For instance, the two placebo-controlled blinded trials investigating NAC’s effects on cocaine-use disorder used seven different rating scales as outcomes with none in common between the two studies [171, 172]. This adds unnecessary barriers to reproducing results and conducting meta-analyses. The heterogeneity of diagnosis and inclusion criteria may have played a factor in negative findings in ASD trials in which two studies that included patients from severe to mild disease were negative [34, 35]. In trials of SUDs, some trials require abstinence prior to study start and others do not, which is another source of heterogeneity.

Another difficulty in studying the potential use of NAC clinically is that its effects may be subtle and may fail to reach clinical significance. If NAC has a small overall effect on the user, this may be more difficult to recognize in clinical trials. However, NAC has consistently been found to be highly tolerable, and its adverse effects, such as nausea, are minimal. This gives it potential as an add-on therapy for psychiatric disorders, rendering its small clinical effects more acceptable.

A few studies were conducted in a controlled setting in which adherence could be monitored by investigators; however, the majority occurred as outpatients with intermittent reviews. In the majority of trials, adherence was assessed by pill counting, which introduces bias as the pill being removed from the pack doesn’t necessarily equal the participant taking it. Some studies added riboflavin to both NAC and placebo capsules and tested for this in urine to assess adherence to reduce this bias. Adherence is very important in NAC due to its poor bioavailability, which requires dosing multiple times a day. This is especially challenging in patients suffering from psychiatric disorders. Thus, underdosing and poor adherence may help explain some of the mixed results.

This review discussed psychiatric disorders as distinct disorders without consistently accounting for comorbidity and the majority of the studies included did the same. Comorbidity is common in psychiatry and many psychiatric conditions share common etiological factors and operative pathways. Both studies that looked at NAC’s effect on comorbidities showed a significant effect on treatment outcomes compared to placebo [81, 129]. Further investigation of NAC’s effects on comorbid disorders could have value in guiding future clinical practice.

There is no condition in which there is currently enough evidence for NAC to be unequivocally recommended clinically; however, due to NAC’s high tolerability the barrier for its clinical use may be lower than a less tolerable medication. NAC currently has the most evidence for its use in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia (if treatment continues for at least 24 weeks), severe autism spectrum disorder, OCD, and obsessive-compulsive-related disorders. There has been much less published on NAC’s treatment of bipolar and unipolar depression, although what little has been published indicates that NAC may have a role in treatment. There have been no controlled trials published investigating NAC’s treatment of anxiety disorders and PTSD. Whilst there have been comparatively more investigations into NAC’s treatment of SUDs, the findings have been less promising than in other psychiatric disorders.

Future research into NAC treating schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and obsessive-compulsive-related disorders may be the most useful in terms of bringing NAC into the clinical sphere. However, given the large and growing demand for treatment of neurocognitive disorders from sports-related chronic traumatic encephalopathy and aging populations, future research of NAC’s treatment of neurocognitive disorders may be highly clinically relevant. Future research into NAC’s use in SUDs may be more fruitful if it focuses on prolonging abstinence in populations who have already achieved abstinence, given NAC’s theorized mechanism of reducing cravings.

14 Conclusions

There are multiple treatment-resistant illnesses in psychiatry and fewer new psychotropic medications being developed now than in previous decades. This increases demand for novel uses of existing medications such as NAC. NAC has shown mixed results in treating many psychiatric disorders, as initial significant findings have often not been replicated or are limited to subgroup analysis. It is unclear at this stage whether this is due to underpowered studies or NAC’s ineffectiveness as a treatment, thus there is a need for longer and better powered studies before NAC can be recommended clinically.