Clinical trial NCT02483130: Effect of N-acetylcysteine on Brain Glutamate
Official title: A Randomised Controlled Double Blind Crossover Study of the Effect of a Single Dose of N-acetylcysteine Versus Placebo on Brain Glutamate in Patients With Psychotic Disorders
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Psychosis
Lead sponsor: King's College London
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2015-06-26
Enrollment: 20
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: CASE_ONLY
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Patients will be identified:

1. Via South London and Maudsley (SLaM) clinical teams.
2. If they have previously indicated to local research teams that they would like to be contacted about future research.

2. Through the SLaM NIHR Bioresource, including patients in CRIS, the research informatics database, who have given consent to be contacted about research projects.

Brief summary: A double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study to determine whether a single dose of N-acetylcysteine (a nutritional supplement) can reduce brain glutamate levels in patients with a psychotic disorder. Secondary outcomes are to determine the pattern of alteration in brain perfusion and activity following a single dose of N-acetylcysteine.

Detailed description: This is a physiological, proof-of-concept study designed to investigate whether a single administration of N-acetylcysteine can reduce brain glutamate levels in people with psychotic disorders.

Previous research suggests that poor response to antipsychotics may be linked to increased levels of glutamate in the brain (Egerton et al., 2012; Demjaha, Egerton et al., 2013). Reducing brain glutamate levels may therefore be therapeutic. This study tests whether it is possible to reduce brain glutamate levels in psychotic disorders.

This is a small pilot study to determine whether a single administration of NAC can reduce brain glutamate levels in psychosis. At the same time, we will also examine the effects of NAC on brain resting perfusion and activity, to gain more information about how NAC may be acting.

This study will recruit participants with a previous diagnosis of a psychotic disorder. There will be three study visits, 1-2 weeks apart. The first visit will involve a physical health check, blood sample and an interview to assess current symptoms and confirm medical history. On the second and third visits participants will have an MRI scan, lasting one hour, after taking capsules containing either 2400mg NAC or placebo.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Over 18 years of age
* Diagnosis of a psychotic disorder
* Have mental capacity to consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed drug or alcohol dependency, with the exception of nicotine
* Pregnancy, as determined through a urine pregnancy test
* Presence of any physical health abnormality which may impact on safety to participate in the research, as determined by a study clinician on the basis of the physical health check and the available medical information.
* Presence of electronic or metallic implants contraindicated to MRI scanning at 3 Tesla, or presence of any other contraindication to MRI
* History of asthma
* History of epilepsy or any other seizure
* Under 18 years of age
* Lacking mental capacity to consent
* Current or previous use of NAC
* Currently prescribed clozapine

Primary outcomes:
measure: Reduction in brain glutamate
timeFrame: One hour post capsule
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Brain perfusion
timeFrame: One hour post capsule
measure: Regional activity and connectivity
timeFrame: One hour post capsule
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Denmark Hill
country: United Kingdom
facility: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience
state: London
Study officials:
affiliation: King's College London
name: James H McCabe
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Egerton A, Brugger S, Raffin M, Barker GJ, Lythgoe DJ, McGuire PK, Stone JM. Anterior cingulate glutamate levels related to clinical status following treatment in first-episode schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2012 Oct;37(11):2515-21. doi: 10.1038/npp.2012.113. Epub 2012 Jul 4.
citation: Demjaha A, Egerton A, Murray RM, Kapur S, Howes OD, Stone JM, McGuire PK. Antipsychotic treatment resistance in schizophrenia associated with elevated glutamate levels but normal dopamine function. Biol Psychiatry. 2014 Mar 1;75(5):e11-3. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.06.011. Epub 2013 Jul 25. No abstract available.
citation: Berk M, Copolov D, Dean O, Lu K, Jeavons S, Schapkaitz I, Anderson-Hunt M, Judd F, Katz F, Katz P, Ording-Jespersen S, Little J, Conus P, Cuenod M, Do KQ, Bush AI. N-acetyl cysteine as a glutathione precursor for schizophrenia--a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Sep 1;64(5):361-8. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.03.004. Epub 2008 Apr 23.