The DOI matches its Crossref record; 17 of the 17 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
N-Acetylcysteine, a Glutamate Modulator, in the Treatment of Trichotillomania: A Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Abstract
Context Trichotillomania is characterized by repetitive hair pulling that causes noticeable hair loss. Data on the pharmacologic treatment of trichotillomania are limited to conflicting studies of serotonergic medications. N-acetylcysteine, an amino acid, seems to restore the extracellular glutamate concentration in the nucleus accumbens and, therefore, offers promise in the reduction of compulsive behavior. Objective To determine the efficacy and tolerability of N-acetylcysteine in adults with trichotillomania. Design Twelve-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Setting Ambulatory care center. Patients Fifty individuals with trichotillomania (45 women and 5 men; mean [SD] age, 34.3 [12.1] years). Interventions N-acetylcysteine (dosing range, 1200-2400 mg/d) or placebo was administered for 12 weeks. Main outcome measures Patients were assessed using the Massachusetts General Hospital Hair Pulling Scale, the Clinical Global Impression scale, the Psychiatric Institute Trichotillomania Scale, and measures of depression, anxiety, and psychosocial functioning. Outcomes were examined using analysis of variance modeling analyses and linear regression in an intention-to-treat population. Results Patients assigned to receive N-acetylcysteine had significantly greater reductions in hair-pulling symptoms as measured using the Massachusetts General Hospital Hair Pulling Scale (P Conclusions This study, the first to our knowledge that examines the efficacy of a glutamatergic agent…
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“The glutamate modulator n‐acetyl cysteine has shown evidence of efficacy, in double‐blind placebo‐controlled studies, for OC‐related disorders trichotillomania and skin‐picking disorder”
From Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Etiology, neuropathology, and cognitive dysfunction (2023) · cites this paper as Grant et al., 2009
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“and include significantly reduced quality of life, reduced work productivity, and impaired social functioning.(2,3)”
BackgroundThe Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Hairpulling Scale: 1. Development and Factor Analyses
Keuthen, N. J., O’Sullivan, R. L., Ricciardi, J. N., Shera, D., Savage, C. R., Borgmann, A. S., Jenike, M. A., & Baer, L. (2010) · Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics · doi:10.1159/000289003 · Cited by 444 · cited 3×
“Patients reported the severity of trichotillomania symptoms using the self-rated Massachusetts General Hospital Hair Pulling Scale (MGH-HPS).(33) Investigators assessed trichotillomania symptoms by the use of the physician-administered Psychiatric Institute Trichotillomania Scale (PITS).”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialWoods, D. W., Wetterneck, C. T., & Flessner, C. A. (2006) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2005.05.006 · Cited by 381 · cited 1×
“4% reduction in the MGHHPS score).(49,50,57) These findings suggest that Nacetylcysteine compares favorably with existing treatment options available to physicians.”
BackgroundWoods, D. W., Flessner, C. A., Franklin, M. E., Keuthen, N. J., Goodwin, R. D., Stein, D. J., Walther, M. R., & Trichotillomania Learning Center-Scientific Advisory Board (2006) · The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/jcp.v67n1207 · Cited by 317 · cited 2×
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“Pharmacologic interventions, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, clomip-ramine, atypical antipsychotics, and N-acetylcysteine, have demonstrated inconsistent bene fi t across studies [14 – 16].”
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“Participants were aggregated from five pharmacological clinical trials performed at the University of Chicago [4, 14, 15, 16, 17].”
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“In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 50 patients with trichotillomania, treatment with NAC 1200– 2400 mg/day significantly decreased hair-pulling symptoms.(7) In”
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Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Grant, J. E., Odlaug, B. L., & Won Kim, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Venue
- Archives of General Psychiatry
- Publisher
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Published
- 2009-07-01
- Volume
- 66
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 756
- ISSN
- 0003-990X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2038083244
- Cited by
- 424
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 29
- FWCI
- 29.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Hair Growth and Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Keywords
- trichotillomania, N-acetylcysteine, glutamate modulation, glutamatergic agents, compulsive behavior, hair pulling, nucleus accumbens, pharmacotherapy, treatment efficacy, tolerability, depression, anxiety, psychosocial functioning
- MeSH terms
- Acetylcysteine, Adolescent, Adult, Double-Blind Method, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Personality Inventory, Psychometrics, Trichotillomania, Excitatory Amino Acid Agents, Young Adult
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