Effects of N‐acetyl cysteine on cognitive function in bipolar disorder
Open accessAbstract
Aims: Bipolar disorder is characterized by progressive changes in cognition with declines in executive functioning, memory and sustained attention. Current pharmacotherapies for bipolar disorder target mood symptoms but have not addressed these cognitive changes resulting in euthymic individuals who still experience cognitive deficits. N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC) has been shown to have effects on antioxidant status, glutamate transmission, inflammation and neurogenesis. Adjunctive treatment with NAC improves the symptoms experienced by those with bipolar disorder, particularly depression, and it was hypothesized that cognition may also be improved following NAC treatment. Methods: As part of a larger randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial, participants in the current report were tested at baseline and 6 months to assess changes in cognitive function following either 2000 mg of NAC daily or placebo. Results: This study failed to find changes in cognitive function following treatment with NAC compared to placebo. Conclusions: While an important pilot study, this study had a small sample size and included a limited battery of cognitive tests. Further investigations on the effects of NAC on cognitive performance in bipolar disorder are required.
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In a sample with bipolar disorder, there were no differences between N-acetylcysteine and placebo with respect to cognitive measures.
“In a sample with bipolar disorder, there were no differences between NAC and placebo with respect to cognitive measures [160].”
From Cognitive remission: a novel objective for the treatment of major depression? (2016) · cites this paper as [160]
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Self-citationBerk, M., Copolov, D., Dean, O., Lu, K., Jeavons, S., Schapkaitz, I., Anderson-Hunt, M., Judd, F., Katz, F., Katz, P., et al. (2008) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.03.004 · Cited by 552 · see citing works
Self-citationBerk, M., Copolov, D. L., Dean, O., Lu, K., Jeavons, S., Schapkaitz, I., Anderson-Hunt, M., & Bush, A. I. (2008) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.04.022 · Cited by 500 · see citing works
Self-citationDean, O., Giorlando, F., & Berk, M. (2011) · Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience · doi:10.1503/jpn.100057 · Cited by 494 · see citing works
Self-citationState- and trait-related deficits in sustained attention in bipolar disorder
Clark, L., & Goodwin, G. M. (2004) · European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/s00406-004-0460-y · Cited by 159 · see citing works
COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN BIPOLAR DISORDER
Látalová, K., Praško, J. P., Diveky, T., & Velartova, H. (2011) · Biomedical Papers · doi:10.5507/bp.155.2011.003 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Dean, O. M., Bush, A. I., Copolov, D. L., Kohlmann, K., Jeavons, S., Schapkaitz, I., Anderson‐Hunt, M., & Berk, M.
- Affiliations
- Deakin University (AU)
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (AU)
- Monash University (AU)
- La Trobe University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Berk, Michael
- Venue
- Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-10
- Volume
- 66
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 514-517
- ISSN
- 1323-1316 (ISSN-L)
- 1440-1819
- OpenAlex
- W1508792693
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 3.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Own your potential (DEAKIN) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Keywords
- N-acetylcysteine, bipolar disorder, cognitive function, executive function, memory, sustained attention, adjunctive pharmacotherapy, antioxidant status, glutamatergic neurotransmission, neurogenesis, inflammation
- MeSH terms
- Acetylcysteine, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Bipolar Disorder, Cognition, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Trail Making Test, Verbal Behavior, Treatment Outcome
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