Conditions: Self-Harm Depression Suicide
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 44
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
To measure NAC-induced changes to concentrations of glutathione (GSH) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in 36 adolescents and young adults with NSSI (12 in each group: high, low, and placebo).

Detailed description:
This study is a double-blind, placebo controlled, 4-week course of two-tiered N-acetylcysteine (NAC) dosing focused on identifying the optimal dose to achieve meaningful change in measurable biomarkers (glutathione and glutamate).

This design will allow us to confirm acute biological changes, select the optimal dose for achieving biological effects, and examine dose/concentration-response relationships with respect to biological markers and pharmacokinetics.

Brief schedule of activities: Subjects will be recruited through community and clinical settings and screened over the phone. There will be a total of 4 in-person visits and two sets of on-line study activities.

Eligible participants will be assigned to one of 3 groups (double-blinded): a low-dose NAC group (3600 mg/day), a high-dose NAC group (5400mg/day), and placebo (PBO). The study intervention period is 4 weeks. Total participation is up to 8 weeks, depending on the length of time between Day 0 and Day 1.

The investigators will recruit 36 adolescents and young adults aged 16-24 years. There will be 12 participants in each group (PBO, 3600mg/day, 5400mg/day). The investigators will use a minimization procedure to ensure that the participants in these 3 groups will have similar age, clinical severity and medication status.

Arms:
arm 1: 3600 NAC mg/day arm 2: 5400 NAC mg/day arm 3: Placebo

Interventions: intervention 1: N-acetyl cysteine intervention 2: Placebo oral tablet
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 3600 or 5400 mg/day N-acetyl cysteine intervention 2: Placebo

Protocol document:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
Study Product Guidelines and Considerations 
1 of 71 
Version 12 
 
 
06 October 2021 
Identifying Biological Signatures of N-Acetylcysteine for 
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents and Young Adults 
Kathryn Cullen, MD 
Associate Professor and Director of the Child and Adolescent 
Psychiatry Division at the University of Minnesota 
Supported by:  
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health 
Grant: 1R61AT009995-01 
Study Intervention Provided by: 
Swanson Health Products 
Sponsor of IND (IDE): 
Kathryn Cullen, MD; IND #: 108345 
 


Study Product Guidelines and Considerations 
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Version 12 
 
 
06 October 2021 
Tool Revision History 
Version Number: 3 
Version Date: 01 March 2019 
Summary of Revisions Made: Transfer to NCCIH template  
 
Version Number: 3.2 
Version Date: 08 May 2019 
Summary of Revisions Made: Response to NCCIH comments; shift baseline measures from 
Day 0 to Day 1 to standardize time length from baseline to Day 28; administrative changes 
Version Number: 3.3 
Version Date: 25 July 2019 
Summary of Revisions Made: Added Minnesota State Fair recruitment booth information to 
recruitment section of protocol 
Version Number: 3.4 
Version Date: 24 October 2019 
Summary of Revisions Made: Response to site initiation visit comments; removed bioavailability 
as a study objective; changed procedure for MRI toxicology screen to reflect that participants 
will still be scanned if results are positive; added new measure to track participants’ ongoing 
medication use and changes during the study; added remote completion option for REDCap 
self-report online questionnaires; added optional text communication; added REDCap survey as 
an option for medication adherence tracking; added recruitment from clinic; changed personnel.   
Version Number: 4 
Version Date: 25 February 2020 
Summary of Revisions Made: Study drug manufacturer was changed from BioAdvantex to 
Swanson Health Products. The study drug administration was revised to reflect this change. 
The quantity of drug per pill reduced from 900 mg/tablet to 600 mg/capsules, and the method of 
ingesting the drug was changed from dissolving tablets to swallowing capsules. Added Cash 
Choice Task, added new location (the Research in Adolescent Depression Lab at the University 
of Minnesota Medical School) for the Day 0 (intake) visit, and Day 14 (mid-study) visit, and 
added explanation regarding CMRR Subject Information form. 
Version Number: 5 
Version Date: 10 August 2020 
Summary of Revisions Made: Added COVID safety screen and other safety practices as 
outlined in the sunrise plan by PI Dr. Cullen for all in-person visits. Added option of video 
conferencing for visit 1 and visit 3. Changed the plan for study drug supply to the participant. 
Now a 4-week supply of the study drug will be given to the participant on visit 2. Added 
abbreviated PK sample collection scheme for visit 4 (day 28) to be used during the COVID-19 
pandemic. Added participants’ choice of multiple needle sticks or placement of IV catheter on 
visit 4 when practicing abbreviated PK sample collection scheme. 


Study Product Guidelines and Considerations 
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Version 12 
 
 
06 October 2021 
Version Number: 6 
Version Date: 18 September 2020 
Summary of Revisions Made: Replaced consenting language to reflect template for e-
consenting procedures. Corrected a discrepancy in consenting procedural description to reflect 
transition to e-consenting vs. in-person consenting procedures.  
 
Version Number: 7 
Version Date: 10 December 2020 
Summary of Revisions Made: Moved BDI-II assessment to Study Day 0 (Consenting Visit) in 
order to obtain necessary randomization characteristics pre-MRI scanning on Day 1.  
 
Version Number:8 
Version date: 21 February 2021 
Summary of revisions: Added provision of partial compensation to participants based on the 
tasks completed in the study/visit, to accommodate scenarios where participants only complete 
a fraction of the planned activities. 
 
Version Number: 9 
Version date: 22 March 2021 
Summary of revisions: Clarified eligibility language regarding “significant tissue damage” in 
order to use the same language between protocol and screening forms, moved SITBI to Day 0 
activities in order to better inform eligibility determination, developed an online self-report 
REDCap survey for participant screening.  
 
 
Version Number: 10 
Version date: 05 May 2021 
Summary of revisions:  Assigned the WASI-II to be completed on Day 1 or 28. Remove BSS on 
Day 0 (only collect on Day 1 and 28) to limit patient burden. Added additional warning re: blood 
draw risks (fainting and/or dizziness) and additional common side effects of NAC (rash and 
itchiness).  Removed language describing “medication boxes,” as study medications are 
provided in bagged, individual RX bottles at this time. Added language to specify that 
medication tracking diaries are only provided on Days 1 & 14 if the hardcopy option is elected 
by the participant. Changed final visit window from “28 +/- 3 dayfs” to “28-32 days,” 
 to accurately reflect supply provided by IDS since COVID protocol changes. Additionally added 
flexibility to fill scripts up to 35 days if a participant is unable to complete final visit during 28-32 
day medication supply window. Added detailed language regarding reporting of protocol 
deviations (per Advarra Handbook). 
 
 
Version Number: 11 
Version date: 01 July 2021 
Summary of revisions:   
(1) Clarified language describing more specifically when a participant may be withdrawn from 
the study due to suicidal ideation, moved text on study withdrawal from Section “6.2.5 Final 
evaluation” to Section “8. Intervention Discontinuation”, and edited that section for clarity.  
(2) Added the role of an Independent Clinical Monitor, described in Safety sections 7.1 – 7.6 . 


Study Product Guidelines and Considerations 
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Version 12 
 
 
06 October 2021 
(3) Removed the SITBI on Visit 4 to reduce participant burden.  
(4) Broadened inclusion /exclusion criteria to allow mild Alcohol Use Disorder, mild Cannabis 
Use Disorder, and Substance Use or Alcohol Disorders in early remission (at least 3 months of 
abstinence).  
(5) Clarified assessment of side effects and how they are evaluated as potential adverse events, 
added detail on monitoring procedure (emails sent to study team when triggered by threshold-
level responses on key safety measures), and moved this text about side effects assessment 
from Section “6.2.4 Follow-up Visits” to Sections “7.1 Specification of Safety Parameters” and 
7.2 “Methods and Timing for Assessing, Recording and Analyzing Safety Measures”.  
(6) Clarified 14-day pill count (will now be done by participant over Zoom on 14-day visit).  
(7) Deleted duplicated paragraph beginning with “Adverse Events, Unanticipated Problems and 
Serious Adverse Events”.  
(8) Added the definition of Unanticipated Problem. 
(9) Clarified language describing consent process to include dual authentication.   
 
 
Version Number: 12 
Version date: 06 October 2021 
Summary of revisions: Added language to describe the expected number of people to be 
consented and changed the expected number of participants to be enrolled from 45 to 46. 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Page 
Identifying Biological Signatures of N-Acetylcysteine for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in 
Adolescents and Young Adults ..................................................................................................... 1 
Tool Revision History ................................................................................................................. 2 
TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................. 5 
STUDY TEAM ROSTER ........................................................................................................... 8 
PARTICIPATING STUDY SITES ............................................................................................. 9 
PRÉCIS ....................................................................................................................................... 9 
1. STUDY OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................... 10 
1.1 
Primary Objective ......................................................................................................... 10 
1.2 
Secondary Objectives .................................................................................................... 10 
2. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE ................................................................................... 11 
2.1 
Background on Condition, Disease, or Other Primary Study Focus ............................. 11 
2.2 
Study Rationale ............................................................................................................. 11 
3. STUDY DESIGN ..................................................................................................................... 14 
4. SELECTION AND ENROLLMENT OF PARTICIPANTS .............................................. 16 
4.1 
Inclusion Criteria ........................................................................................................... 16 
4.2 
Exclusion Criteria .......................................................................................................... 17 
4.3 
Study Enrollment Procedures ........................................................................................ 17 
5. STUDY INTERVENTIONS ................................................................................................... 23 
5.1 
Interventions, Administration, and Duration ................................................................. 23 
5.2 
Handling of Study Interventions ................................................................................... 24 
5.3 
Concomitant Interventions ............................................................................................ 25 
5.3.1 Allowed Interventions ............................................................................................... 25 
5.3.2 Required Interventions .............................................................................................. 25 
5.3.3 Prohibited Interventions ............................................................................................ 25 
5.4 
Adherence Assessment .................................................................................................. 25 
6. STUDY PROCEDURES ......................................................................................................... 25 
6.1 
Schedule of Activities ................................................................................................... 26 
6.2 
Description of Evaluations ............................................................................................ 28 
6.2.1 Screening Evaluation ................................................................................................. 28 


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6.2.2 Enrollment, Baseline, and/or Randomization ........................................................... 33 
6.2.3 Blinding ..................................................................................................................... 36 
6.2.4 Follow-up Visits ........................................................................................................ 36 
6.2.5 Completion/Final Evaluation .................................................................................... 37 
7. SAFETY ASSESSMENTS ..................................................................................................... 39 
7.1 
Specification of Safety Parameters ............................................................................... 43 
7.2 
Methods and Timing for Assessing, Recording, and Analyzing Safety Parameters ..... 44 
7.3 
Adverse Events and Serious Adverse Events ................................................................ 44 
7.4 
Reporting Procedures .................................................................................................... 46 
7.5 
Follow-up for Adverse Events ...................................................................................... 48 
7.6 
Safety Monitoring ......................................................................................................... 48 
8. INTERVENTION DISCONTINUATION ............................................................................ 49 
9. STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................... 50 
9.1 
General Design Issues ................................................................................................... 50 
9.2 
Sample Size and Randomization ................................................................................... 51 
Treatment Assignment Procedures ........................................................................................ 51 
9.3  
Definition of Populations .............................................................................................. 51 
9.4 
Interim Analyses and Stopping Rules ........................................................................... 51 
9.5 
Outcomes ....................................................................................................................... 53 
9.5.1 Primary Outcome ...................................................................................................... 53 
9.5.2 Secondary Outcomes ................................................................................................. 53 
9.6 
Data Analyses ................................................................................................................ 53 
10. DATA COLLECTION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE ................................................... 54 
10.1 
Data Collection Forms .................................................................................................. 54 
10.2 
Data Management ......................................................................................................... 55 
10.3 
Quality Assurance ......................................................................................................... 55 
10.3.1 
Training ................................................................................................................. 55 
10.3.2 
Quality Control Committee ................................................................................... 56 
10.3.3 
Metrics ................................................................................................................... 56 
10.3.4 
Protocol Deviations ............................................................................................... 56 
10.3.5 
Monitoring ............................................................................................................. 57 
11. PARTICIPANT RIGHTS AND CONFIDENTIALITY .................................................... 58 
11.1 
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review .................................................................... 58 
11.2 
Informed Consent Forms ............................................................................................... 58 


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11.3 
Participant Confidentiality ............................................................................................ 59 
11.4 
Study Discontinuation ................................................................................................... 60 
12. COMMITTEES ..................................................................................................................... 60 
13. PUBLICATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS .................................................................. 60 
14. REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 60 
15. SUPPLEMENTS/APPENDICES ......................................................................................... 66 
I. Supplement I: Blood draw timing and blood processing 
II. Supplement II: Neuroimaging procedures 
III. Supplement III: Identification of Potential Participants 
IV. Supplement IV: Procedure for suicide and self-harm risk assessment 
 


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STUDY TEAM ROSTER  
Kathryn Cullen, MD 
Principal Investigator 
rega0026@umn.edu 
612.273.9762 
F282/2A West 
2450 Riverside Ave 
Minneapolis, MN 55454 
Siddhee Sahasrabudhe, MS 
Research Coordinator 
 
sahas009@umn.edu 
857.701.0842 
2001 6th street SE 
4-226 
Minneapolis, MN 55455 
Lynn Eberly PhD 
Co-Investigator 
leberly@umn.edu 
612-624-1436 
420 Delaware St SE 
MMC 303 Mayo 
Minneapolis, MN 55455 
Bonnie Klimes-Dougan, PhD 
Co-Investigator 
klimes@umn.edu 
612-626-4347 
N412 Elliott Hall 
75 E River Rd 
Minneapolis, MN 55455 
Reena Kartha, PhD 
Co-Investigator 
rvkartha@umn.edu 
612-626-2436 
4-500 McGuire Translational 
Research Facility 
2001 - 6th St SE 
Minneapolis, MN 55455 
James Cloyd, PharmD 
Co-Investigator 
cloyd001@umn.edu 
612-624-4609 
7-115 Weaver-Densford Hall 
308 Harvard St. SE 
Minneapolis, MN 55455 
Lisa Coles, PhD 
Co-Investigator 
durh0016@umn.edu 
612-624-1861 
4-226 McGuire Translational 
Research Facility 
2001 - 6th St SE 
Minneapolis, MN 55455 
Gulin Oz, PhD 
Co-Investigator 
gulin@cmrr.umn.edu 
612-625-7897 
Center for Magnetic Resonance 
Research 
University of Minnesota  
2021 6th St. SE. 
Minneapolis, MN 55455 
Bryon Mueller, PhD 
Co-Investigator 
muell093@umn.edu 
612-624-4778 
Center for Magnetic Resonance 
Research 
University of Minnesota  
2021 6th St. SE. 
Minneapolis, MN 55455 


Protocol, Version 12 
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PARTICIPATING STUDY SITES 
University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 
PRÉCIS  
Study Title  
Identifying Biological Signatures of N-Acetylcysteine for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in 
Adolescents and Young Adults 
Objectives  
Primary: To measure NAC-induced changes to concentrations of glutathione (GSH) 
in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as measured by magnetic resonance 
spectroscopy (MRS) in 36 adolescents and young adults with NSSI (12 in each group: 
high, low, and placebo). Secondary:  
1) Measure NAC-induced changes in the reduced-to-oxidized ratio of GSH 
(GSH/GSSG) in blood 
2) Measure the NAC-induced changes to concentrations of glutamate (GLU) in 
the ACC as measured by MRS 
3) Measure and compare tolerability of high dose NAC, low dose NAC and 
placebo 
4) Characterization of NAC pharmacokinetics 
5) Measure NAC induced biomarker changes in levels of the antioxidant proteins 
heme oxygenase-1 and catalase in blood. 
6) Measure concentrations of GABA in the ACC by MRS. 
7) Measure NAC induced biomarker changes in resting-state functional 
connectivity between amygdala and insula. 
Design and Outcomes   
This study is a double-blind, placebo controlled, 4-week course of two-tiered N-
acetylcysteine (NAC) dosing focused on identifying the optimal dose to achieve 
meaningful change in measurable biomarkers (glutathione and glutamate).  
This design will allow us to confirm acute biological changes, select the optimal dose 
for achieving biological effects, and examine dose/concentration-response 
relationships with respect to biological markers and pharmacokinetics. 
Brief schedule of activities: Subjects will be recruited through community and 
clinical settings and screened using an online form. There will be a total of 4 in-
person visits and two sets of on-line study activities.  
• Day 0 -- Visit 1: Consent, clinical assessment, cognitive testing, 
randomization / group assignment 
• Day 1 -- Visit 2: baseline measures, MRI scan, blood draw and begin study 


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medication 
• Day 7: At-home online surveys 
• Day 14: Visit 3: In-person visit, re-supply NAC/PBO 
• Day 21: At-home online surveys 
• Day 28 -- Visit 4 (final visit): NAC/PBO final dose, MRI scan, 5 blood 
samples via intravenous (IV) catheter for pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses, 
clinical assessment 
Interventions and Duration  
Eligible participants will be assigned to one of 3 groups (double-blinded): a low-dose 
NAC group (3600 mg/day), a high-dose NAC group (5400mg/day), and placebo 
(PBO). The study intervention period is 4 weeks. Total participation is up to 8 weeks, 
depending on the length of time between Day 0 and Day 1. 
Sample Size and Population  
We will recruit 36 adolescents and young adults aged 16-24 years. There will be 12 
participants in each group (PBO, 3600mg/day, 5400mg/day). We will use a 
minimization procedure to ensure that the participants in these 3 groups will have 
similar age, clinical severity and medication status. 
1. STUDY OBJECTIVES 
1.1 
Primary Objective 
To test the hypothesis that oral NAC treatment (but not placebo) will lead to at least a 
5% increase in glutathione (GSH) concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex as 
measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in a study of 36 adolescents 
and young adults with NSSI. 
 
We will test two NAC doses (3600mg and 5400mg). Dose superiority will be defined 
both by change in GSH and by tolerability. Specifically, the superior dose will be the 
one which showed capability of achieving the greatest increase in GSH in the ACC as 
measured by MRS, and where no more than 20% of subjects at that dose discontinue 
or diminish their dose due to medication adverse effects (See section 5.1 for adverse 
effects and diminishing dose). (In other words, no less than 80% of subjects at a dose 
can discontinue or diminish their dose due to adverse effects in order to qualify as a 
superior dose.)   
1.2 
Secondary Objectives 
1) Test the hypothesis that oral NAC will lead to an increase of at least 50% 
(degree of change will be greatest for NAC 5400mg, lesser extent for NAC 
3600mg, minimal / no change for placebo) in the reduced-to-oxidized ratio of 
GSH (GSH/GSSG) in blood. 
2) Test the hypothesis that oral NAC (but not placebo) will lead to a decrease of 


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at least 5% (degree of change will be greatest for NAC 5400mg, lesser extent 
for NAC 3600mg, minimal / no change for placebo) in the concentrations of 
glutamate (GLU) in the ACC as measured by MRS. 
3) To measure tolerability of high dose NAC, low dose NAC and placebo 
4) Characterization of NAC pharmacokinetics  
5) To measure additional NAC-induced biomarker changes (degree of change 
will be greatest for NAC 5400mg, lesser extent for NAC 3600mg, minimal / 
no change for placebo) in blood sampling of antioxidant protein levels 
(catalase and heme oxygenase-1). 
6) To measure additional NAC-induced biomarker changes in the concentrations 
of GABA in the ACC 
7) To measure additional NAC-induced biomarker changes (degree of change 
will be greatest for NAC 5400mg, lesser extent for NAC 3600mg, minimal / 
no change for placebo) in brain imaging (resting-state functional connectivity 
between amygdala and insula). 
 
2. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE 
2.1 
Background on Condition, Disease, or Other Primary Study Focus 
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), the deliberate act of damaging one’s own tissues 
without suicidal intent (Winchel and Stanley 1991). Onset of NSSI typically occurs in 
early-mid adolescence (Andover 2014; Andrews et al. 2013) and adolescent NSSI has 
an international prevalence of approximately 18% (Muehlenkamp et al. 2012). NSSI 
has been shown to predict negative outcomes such as persistent psychopathology and 
suicide attempts (Horwitz, Czyz, and King 2015; Tang et al. 2011; Victor and 
Klonsky 2014). Treatments for this habitual, self-destructive behavior pattern are 
sorely limited (Brent et al. 2013; Hawton et al. 2015). Since adolescence is notable 
for ongoing brain development (Giedd et al. 1999), it represents a critical window of 
opportunity to derail dangerous behavior trajectories, restore healthy behavior, and 
prevent negative outcomes (Paus, Keshavan, and Giedd 2008). Identification of 
novel, biologically-informed treatments for adolescent NSSI could improve health 
outcomes over the lifespan. 
2.2 
Study Rationale 
N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a dietary supplement that is widely-available over-the-
counter and by prescription, may have promise as a novel treatment for adolescent 
NSSI. NAC is the N-acetyl derivative of the amino acid L-cysteine. It can be found in 
health food stores with other natural products and also is a prescribed drug for 
conditions including Tylenol overdose and certain respiratory diseases. The 
pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of oral NAC have already been established in 
humans (Holdiness 1991). Several reviews have highlighted a growing literature 
suggesting that NAC can be helpful for a range of psychiatric disorders (Berk et al. 


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2013; Ng et al. 2008; Deepmala et al. 2015).  
We conducted an open-label pilot study showed a reduction of NSSI frequency in 
adolescents after 8 weeks of oral NAC (Cullen et al. 2018). These exciting findings 
prompted the proposed work taking next steps to investigate the possible use of this 
widely-available dietary supplement for a common and serious adolescent clinical 
problem.  
In preparation for a definitive clinical NAC trial for adolescent NSSI, a critical 
preliminary step is to clarify NAC’s biological signatures, or measures of the 
mechanisms underlying its clinical effects, to provide the basis for biologically-
informed design of optimized efficacy trials. Literature to date (see review by (Berk 
et al. 2013) suggests two possible biological signatures for NAC’s behavioral effects: 
(1) increasing glutathione (GSH), the primary antioxidant in the brain; and/or (2) 
modulating the glutamate (Glu)-cysteine antiporter (via cysteine [CYS], NAC’s 
primary metabolite), effectively decreasing excessive Glu transmission. Both of these 
mechanisms could alleviate stress-induced neurotoxicities in adolescents with NSSI, 
but neither has been evaluated in NSSI. Based on current knowledge including our 
own past work, this study seeks to identify NAC’s biological signatures in 
adolescents with NSSI, as follows: 
1) Biological Signature #1: NAC increases GSH, a potent antioxidant. A key 
biological mechanism that has been proposed to underlie NAC’s positive 
impact on mental health is via enhanced production of GSH, the primary 
antioxidant in the brain, providing a neuroprotective effect against the 
toxicities associated with stress (Berk et al. 2013; Ng et al. 2008). Oxidative 
stress mechanisms have been implicated in affective disorders (Siwek et al. 
2013). In adolescents, NSSI behavior typically represents an attempt to self-
regulate extreme levels of negative affect (Klonsky 2007). Furthermore, 
adolescents with NSSI frequently report a history of severe adverse 
experiences (Jacobson and Gould 2007) which themselves are known to have 
lasting adverse impacts on the CNS including neuronal damage (McEwen 
2003; Goldwater et al. 2009; McEwen, Nasca, and Gray 2016; Lupien et al. 
2009). Research in humans has shown that NAC preserves mitochondrial 
bioenergetics and normalizes GSH levels following spinal cord injury (Patel et 
al. 2014) and following brain injury (Pandya et al. 2014). A recent study of 
children with autism showed that NAC led to increased blood GSH levels 
compared to PBO (Wink et al. 2016). In a developmental animal model of 
schizophrenia (early hippocampal lesions in rats), NAC was shown to prevent 
brain and behavioral alterations induced by the lesions through diminishing 
oxidative stress (Cabungcal et al. 2014). In a mouse model of Parkinson’s 
disease, mice with impaired cysteine uptake show evidence of oxidative stress 
and early cell death of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatum; both 
processes were alleviated by NAC (Berman et al. 2011). Research in rodents 
has suggested that NAC leads to increased GSH redox ratios in brain tissue 
that persist after NAC is out of circulation (Zhou et al. 2015). Magnetic 
resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is capable of non-invasively measuring 
cortical GSH concentrations in-vivo, and systemic levels are typically 


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measured using the GSH redox ratio (GSH/GSSG). Despite the relevance of 
oxidative stress mechanisms to NSSI, no research to date has formally tested 
treatments targeting this system in adolescents with NSSI using appropriate 
methodology to confirm this potential biological signature.  
2) Biological Signature #2: Glutamate (Glu) is the primary excitatory 
neurotransmitter in the brain, and excessive Glu signaling plays a key role in 
impaired synaptic plasticity and impaired regulatory control of impulses to 
engage in maladaptive behaviors (Kalivas and Volkow 2011, Brown et al. 
1988). Since NSSI is a maladaptive, habitual behavior, it has conceptual 
overlap with other disorders along the impulsive/compulsive spectrum such as 
addiction, gambling, hair-pulling, skin-picking, and obsessive-compulsive 
disorder, in which dysregulation within the glutamate (Glu) system has been 
implicated (Kalivas and Volkow 2011). NAC regulates glutamate via the Glu-
cysteine antiporter andrevious studies have demonstrated that NAC may 
alleviate these impulsive/compulsive problems (Rothbart et al. 2013; McClure 
et al. 2014; Grant et al. 2016; Brown et al. 1988). NAC’s primary metabolite 
cysteine (CYS) gets converted to cystine, which then enters glial cells in 
exchange for Glu via the Glu-cystine antiporter. Pre-clinical research on 
cocaine dependence showed that by this mechanism, NAC leads to increased 
extracellular glutamate via exchange of extracellular cysteine with 
intracellular glutamate, ultimately pumping glutamate out of glial cells (Baker 
et al. 2003; Moussawi et al. 2011). Increased concentrations of glutamate in 
the extracellular compartment serves to inhibit glutamate transmission 
ultimately serving to decrease glutamatergic neurotransmission (Moran et al. 
2005) MRS is capable of non-invasively measuring cortical Glu 
concentrations in-vivo. While MRS cannot distinguish intracellular from 
extracellular Glu, it primarily measures intracellular Glu (R. Gruetter et al. 
1998) Previous MRS research in adults with cocaine dependence showed that 
NAC led to decreased Glu in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC; (Schmaal et 
al. 2012), a region of the brain that is implicated in regulating emotion and 
controlling impulses (Bush, Luu, and Posner 2000). In summary, a potential 
biological signature for NAC is its modulation of the Glu-cystine antiporter, 
downregulating excessive glutamate transmission and associated 
excitotoxicity. This biological signature can be indexed by MRS: decreased 
Glu concentrations in the ACC would indicate reduction in intracellular Glu 
concentrations due to NAC’s modulation of the Glu-cystine antiporter. 
However, although the Glu system has been hypothesized as an important 
potential mechanism underlying NAC’s behavioral benefits and in particular 
may be highly relevant to perpetuating NSSI, no studies have yet attempted to 
probe this system in adolescents with NSSI.  
Finally, confirmation of NAC’s biological signatures is challenging due its complex 
pharmacokinetics (PK). Oral NAC is primarily used in psychiatric studies because of 
its ease of use, but has low bioavailability (5-10%). While multiple PBO-controlled 
clinical trials have shown that oral NAC, typically at modest doses such as 1200mg-
3000mg/day, produces significant behavioral changes in several psychiatric disorders 
(Berk et al. 2013), to date there is a paucity of evidence demonstrating that oral NAC 


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leads to significant direct antioxidant effects in the human central nervous system. 
Mental health studies have generally not included PK and pharmacodynamic (PD) 
components-- a missed opportunity to explain mixed findings with respect to clinical 
efficacy. 
Summary and Scientific Premise: Adolescent NSSI is a severe clinical problem in 
need of new treatments. Results from an open-label pilot study suggest that NAC may 
be clinically useful in reducing frequency of NSSI in adolescents. Next steps in 
investigating this potential treatment will require a clear understanding of NAC’s 
biological signatures and how they relate to behavior change. Based on existing 
knowledge, two candidate biological signatures for NAC include (1) increasing GSH 
in the brain, thus serving as an antioxidant, and (2) modulating Glu, serving to reduce 
stress-induced excitotoxicity. The current proposal will investigate these biological 
signatures of oral NAC in adolescents with NSSI using a study design that will 
address current knowledge gaps regarding the dose required to achieve PK and PD 
responses. Oral administration is selected for this study because of its ease of use and 
broader applicability in clinical practice. The proposed NAC doses are selected based 
on (1) our prior pilot study in adolescents with NSSI showed clinical improvement 
following an 8-week course of treatment of oral NAC at a dose of 3600mg/day 
(Cullen 2018), and (2) our prior study in adults with neurological disease which 
showed changes in GSH following a 28-day course of treatment with oral NAC at a 
dose of 6000mg/day (Coles 2018). The 4-week period is selected to determine effects 
from acute oral NAC treatment on the brain, as was done in Coles et al 2018. 
3. STUDY DESIGN 
Overview: This study will investigate NAC’s biological signatures in adolescent 
NSSI, testing whether a meaningful change in measurable biomarkers (GSH and 
GLU) can be achieved following a 4-week course of NAC treatment. We will recruit 
36 adolescents and young adults aged 16-24 years. They will be assigned to one of 3 
groups (double-blinded): a low-dose NAC group (3600 mg/day), a high-dose NAC 
group (5400mg/day), and PBO. This design will allow us to confirm acute biological 
changes, select the optimal dose for achieving biological effects, and examine 
dose/concentration-response relationships with respect to biological markers and PK.  
Primary outcome measure: 
1) GSH concentration in ACC.  
Secondary outcome measures: 
1) Reduced-to-oxidized GSH ratio in blood (GSH/GSSG) 
2) Glu concentrations in ACC 
3) Tolerability of NAC as measured using a side effects checklist 
4) Pharmacokinetics of NAC and its metabolites, CYS and GSH 
5) Antioxidant protein levels (catalase and heme oxygenase-1 [HO-1]) for which 
previous studies have shown increases following NAC treatment 
6) GABA concentrations in ACC. Our pilot study found a significant increase in 


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GABA levels after 28 days of oral NAC (6000 mg/day) (Coles et al. 2018). 
7) Functional connectivity between amygdala and insula. Our pilot study showed 
that after treatment with oral NAC (3600 mg/day), participants with NSSI 
showed an increase in amygdala functional connectivity in a cluster that 
included the bilateral insula. 
Table 1 - Participant study duration: 
Day 0 (in-person or video conference) 
3 hours 
Day 1 (in-person) 
4 hours 
Days 2-27 (at home) 
Study drug taken at home (5 capsules in the 
morning, 4 capsules in the evening) 
Days 7 and 21 (online forms at home) 
0.5 hours 
Day 14 (+/- 2 days) (in-person or video 
conference) 
0.5 hours 
Day 28 (+/- 3 days) (in-person) 
3-8 hours (shorter protocol during COVID-19 
pandemic) 
Total  
11-16 hours over 4 weeks 
 
Duration to enroll all participants: 2 years 
Duration to complete all study procedures, including analysis: 3 years 
Study locations: 
1) Ambulatory Research Center 
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus 
F212/2C West 
2450 Riverside Ave 
Minneapolis, MN 55454 
2) Research in Adolescent Depression Lab (RAD Lab) @ Riverside Park Plaza 
University of Minnesota Medical School 
701 25th Ave S Suite #515,  
Minneapolis, MN 55454 
3) Center for Magnetic Resonance Research 
Department of Radiology 
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus 
2021 6th Street SE 
Minneapolis, MN 55455 
 
Study intervention description: NAC is a natural product that may have promise for 
treating NSSI in adolescents. NAC is the N-acetyl derivative of the amino acid L-


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cysteine and a precursor of the antioxidant glutathione. It can be found in health food 
stores with other nutritional and dietary supplements. The bioavailability and 
pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of intravenous (IV) and oral NAC have already been 
established in humans (Holdiness 1991). 
 
Study intervention handling: The SW854 product will be provided to the 
Investigational Drug Service (IDS) Pharmacy by the company Swanson Health 
Products. UMN IDS will supply and prepare matching placebo, as well as handle all 
NAC and placebo allocation and dispensing. All participants, family members, and 
the entire research team will be blinded to active NAC versus PBO assignment. If 
there are any leftover capsules not taken by a participant, these will be returned to 
IDS, recorded and disposed of according to University of Minnesota IDS procedures.   
 
Randomization and Double-Blind. Participants who meet criteria for entry into the 
study (based on the online screen and the clinical interview) and who consent to 
participate will be randomized to active NAC high dose vs. active NAC low dose 
versus PBO (1:1:1). We will implement an adaptive randomization procedure called 
minimization. The purpose of the procedure is to ensure that the 3 groups are similar 
with respect to key demographic and clinical variables (such as age, NSSI severity, 
medication use). The study statistician will use this participant information to assign a 
blinded randomization group (A, B, or C) using the minimization procedure.  
 
The study statistician will then pass the blinded group assignment to the research 
pharmacy, IDS. Before the first participant is randomized, IDS will randomly assign 
“NAC high” “NAC low” and “PBO” to the letters A, B, and C; this assignment (of 
treatment name to treatment letter) will not be communicated to anyone outside of 
IDS until the study is complete and the study team is ready to break the blind. All 
participants, family members, and the entire research team (including the study 
statistician) will be blinded to high NAC versus low NAC versus PBO assignment. 
The IDS pharmacist will be authorized to break the blind on an individual 
participant’s treatment assignment in the event of that participant’s medical 
emergency. See Section 6.2.2 for additional details. 
 
4. SELECTION AND ENROLLMENT OF PARTICIPANTS  
4.1 
Inclusion Criteria 
Participants must meet all of the following inclusion criteria in order to participate in 
this study: 
1) 16-24 years old 
2) Female assigned at birth. 
3) Current frequency of at least one NSSI episode in the past 2 months 
4) ≥ 5 past episodes of NSSI with significant tissue damage (e.g. skin is broken 
or bruised, and/or scars resulted from the injury)  


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5) Psychotropic medications are dose-stable for 1 month. 
6) Ability to understand study procedures and to comply with them for the entire 
length of the study. 
4.2 
Exclusion Criteria 
All candidates meeting the following exclusion criteria will be excluded from study 
participation. Candidates will be screened for these criteria prior to consent. If it is 
found that participant meets exclusion criteria after consent (i.e. at Visit 1 Clinical 
Assessment) participants will be removed from the study or given the necessary time 
to meet eligibility before continuing with study activities.  
1) Any MRI contraindications (e.g. metal plates, claustrophobia, braces, 
implanted devices) 
2) Male assigned at birth. 
3) Any current serious medical illness as defined by medical history 
4) Current Substance Use Disorder (except Tobacco Use Disorder, mild cannabis 
use disorder, mild alcohol use disorder, or SUD in early remission with 
abstinence ≥3 months) 
5) Primary psychotic disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, 
schizophreniform disorder) 
6) Neurodevelopmental disorder such as mental retardation or autism 
7) Changes in psychotropic medications in past 1 month 
8) Taken NAC or glutathione on a regular basis in the past 6 months  
9) Currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant, currently breastfeeding, or 
unwillingness to use contraception throughout the study.  
10) Allergy/sensitivity to N-acetylcysteine. 
11) Inability or unwillingness of individual or legal guardian/representative to 
give written informed consent.  
 
Rationale: Males are excluded for two reasons. First, since there is significant sexual 
dimorphism of brain circuitry that emerges during the adolescent period, given the 
small sample, we want to minimize sex-related variability. Second, the prevalence of 
NSSI is higher in females. In the NAC/NSSI pilot study conducted by our lab, 40 
females and 1 male enrolled. As a result, the single male needed to be excluded due to 
being the only one. 
4.3 
Study Enrollment Procedures  
Our goal is to have completed data for analysis on 36 participants, with the 
expectation of most of these coming from the University of Minnesota Psychiatry 
Department research registry and Fairview in-patient units (referrals and flyers). 
Participants will also be recruited within the local community using flyers and social 


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media marketing. We expect to consent up to 80 people and enroll up to 46 
participants with the expectation of up to 20% attrition due to participant withdrawal. 
Recruitment 
We will pursue the following procedures for candidate recruitment: 
1) We will contact participants from our prior research outreach efforts who 
were either ineligible, screened out or participated in previous research, and 
who had indicated a willingness to be contacted in the future. 
2) We will use the research participant registry based in the University of 
Minnesota Psychiatry outpatient clinic.  
3) We will utilize the M Health clinical data repository of those Fairview patients 
elected to participate in University of Minnesota research. Fairview Research 
Services provides a service that identifies patients in this database that fit 
eligibility criteria and sends a letter to the patient informing them about the 
research opportunity. 
4) We will screen electronic medical records of adolescents with a history of 
self-injurious behavior treated in the clinics and hospital services of the 
University of Minnesota, Medical Center and Masonic Children’s Hospital. 
We will only look at the records of those patients who have not opted-out of 
having their medical records used for research on the Consent for Services 
form they complete at intake. When potential cases are identified, we will 
contact the treating physician to discuss the patient and whether they might be 
suitable for consideration for the study. If yes, we will ask the physician (or 
they physician may choose to delegate this to another member of the treatment 
team) to approach the parent or guardian about the study. The physician (or 
delegated treatment team member) will let parents know that their daughter 
may be eligible to participate in a research study being conducted at the 
University of Minnesota, and will ask the parent or guardian whether they 
would like to be contacted by the research team to learn more about the study. 
The physician (or delegated treatment team member) will explain that 
participation is completely voluntary and in no way related to the treatment 
for their daughter. Information about study opportunities will also be provided 
for potential participants on a research board on the unit.  The board will (a) 
post information about the study, (b) provide small cards with study 
information that parents can take home. 
5) We will use the Fairview research recruitment mailing process. Potential 
participants are identified, based on protocol eligibility criteria, from a clinical 
data repository that houses the records of over 2 million patients. Once 


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identified, Fairview mails the IRB approved study recruitment letter to its 
patients on behalf of the researcher. 
6) We will post advertisements in the community via flyers and local 
newspapers. We will use a Quick Response (QR) code on all printed and 
digital materials which will direct potential participants to a REDCap survey 
The REDCap survey asks for contact information, birth date of the potential 
participant, and also if they have ever self-injured. The REDCap survey and 
responses are to be maintained by the study team. 
7) We will advertise through the internet, social media (Facebook, Pandora, 
Tumblr, etc.) and community outlets about our study and create an 
informative space about research opportunities and information about 
depression, self-harm and mental health for adolescents and young adults. 
Social media accounts for this research lab (RAD Lab) will be used for this 
study, as well as accounts for the University of Minnesota Department of 
Psychiatry managed by the Research Recruitment Specialist working on 
behalf of research staff for recruitment. Social media and internet traffic will 
be directed to a HIPAA compliant REDCap screening form (survey) on the 
website of our research lab (radlab.umn.edu) which will capture screening 
information for self-selected study candidates interested in more information  
and/or participation. 
8) We will use advertisements on digital media platforms to reach our research 
population via demographic and key words. An interested individual’s click 
will bring them to a REDCap survey. The REDCap survey asks for contact 
information, birth date of the potential participant, and also if they have 
recently self-harmed. 
9) We will meet regularly with clinical groups affiliated with the University of 
Minnesota that are involved in the treatment of the target population to build 
awareness of the study and enhance referrals. 
10) We will maintain a social media presence to promote the study and enhance 
visibility to the community. A coordinating website “radlab.umn.edu” will be 
used to describe participation information, including inclusion and exclusion 
criteria and amount of time to complete study. This information will also be 
posted on the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry website 
“z.umn.edu/findastudy”. The website and media pages will provide study 
team contact information and IRB approval number. Media sites will be 
compliant with HIPAA: no identifying information will be collected and 
potential participants will be advised to contact the research team directly via 
phone or email for additional information about this study. The lab will 
include the following disclosure: “Disclaimer: The information on this site is 


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not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, 
diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and 
information, contained on or available through this website, is for general 
information purposes only. Please contact your physician to form a plan that 
addresses you or your child's specific needs” wherever space is allotted.” 
11) We will make regular presentations about the research to community 
organizations including neighborhood groups, parent groups, and church 
groups. 
 
12) Participants will be recruited through the Research Experience Participation 
(REP) program in the Psychology Department at the University of Minnesota. 
Study information will be available on the REP website. Research staff may 
introduce the study in relevant UMN courses and emails with study 
information may be distributed in relevant UMN courses.  
13) Descriptions of the study will also be posted on research study websites, like 
ClinicalTrials.gov and StudyFinder.  
14) We will be recruiting for the study at the Minnesota State Fair Driven to 
Discover Research Facility (D2D) at a recruitment booth for our research lab. 
We will have flyers and brochures about the study at the booth. For parents or 
guardians who tell us they have a daughter in our study age range (16-18), or 
the individual themselves (18 to 24) we will encourage them to complete a 
permission to contact form to indicate their interest in being contacted about 
the study and gather their contact information using a secure REDCap form. 
We will be giving away small prizes for those who sign their daughter up to 
be contacted. 
Sites for Recruitment: 
1) UMN Psychiatry Clinic: Potential participants will be contacted from the 
clinic registry. In addition, a flyer will be posted outside of this clinic where 
potential participants will self-identify and potentially contact research staff to 
inquire more information. 
2) Fairview/M Health: Fairview Health Services will identify potential 
participants from a clinical data repository then mail an IRB-approved study 
recruitment letter to their patients on behalf of the research team. 
3) Community bulletin boards: Flyers will be posted on community boards such 
as in coffee shops, cafes and community centers, where permission is granted.  
4) Internet advertisement: Similar advertisements will be posted through internet 
forums where IRB approved. We will engage BUMP marketing with IRB 
approved materials for internet advertisement.  
5) High schools: We will engage local high schools to gauge interest in 
presentations to students or community groups about health topics related to 
brain development, adolescent health, self-harm and mental health.  We will 


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also reach out to high school counselors to build awareness and encourage 
referrals for the research study. 
6) Clinical groups: We will engage local clinical groups that may see the target 
population as patients to build awareness and encourage referrals for the 
research study. 
7) Community groups: We will engage community groups 
 
8) Minnesota State Fair Driven to Discover Research Building: We will have a 
booth at this building to recruit participants for the research study.  
 
The following recruitment materials are in production and will be used for 
recruitment. Once finished, copies will be provided to Advarra IRB for 
approval.  
1) Flyer (for public display outside outpatient clinic, potential participant 
self-identify)  
2) Flyer (for public display outside inpatient clinic, potential participant self-
identify) 
3) Flyer (for public display in community, potential participant self-identify) 
4) Flyer (for display to clinicians/clinical groups, potential participants 
identified by clinician) 
5) Internet advertisement (for public display, potential participant self-
identify) 
6) Letter to Fairview patient (mailed directly to potential participant, 
identified by Fairview staff via repository) 
7) Study summary shown to potential participants when accessing online 
screening form) 
8) REDCap online screen (automated screening form for potential participant 
eligibility) 
Screening 
Screening documentation: A screening log will be kept to record all candidates, 
reasons for ineligibility or reason for electing to not participate.  
Consent 
We anticipate to consent up to 80 people. The consent process with study candidates 
and/or their parent/guardian will be conducted by the research coordinator or 
principal investigator and will take place at the very first scheduled visit, Day 0, 
before the clinical assessment. They will receive copies of the parental consent, assent 
(if applicable), email authorization and HIPAA forms via encrypted email or USPS 


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mail at least 24 hours before this appointment. The initial consent process will take 
place with research staff in a previously reserved room within the Ambulatory 
Research Center (ARC) at the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry 
(F212) Fairview Riverside West Building, or at the Research in Adolescent 
Depression Lab at the University of Minnesota Medical School, or via video 
conference. During the initial consent visit staff will review the consent forms 
highlighting the most salient points such as study title, purpose, procedures, risks, 
benefits, alternatives, confidentiality, research related injury, voluntariness, and any 
additional signing/initial blocks such as permission to re-contact in the future and 
share data outside of this research study. Talk back method will be used during the 
consent visit to ensure study candidate and/or their parent/guardian (if applicable) are 
understanding these points. In addition, an approved version of the UCSD Brief 
Assessment of Capacity to Consent specific to this study will be used with all 
candidates during the consent process. Candidates that are not able to complete the 
UBACC or score less than 2 points on each question will not be consented and 
enrolled into the study. If a potential participant scores 0 or 1 on any question the 
information pertinent to that question will be reviewed and discussed with the 
participant. If the potential participant is then able to answer the question in full and 
research staff determines the potential participant fully understands the material, they 
will be scored the 2 points and then consented and enrolled. In addition to University 
and department mandatory consent training for appropriate research staff, all new 
staff will be trained in consent for this research study including observing the consent 
process, mock consent and observed for consent process. Throughout the course of 
the research study, participants will be gauged of their comprehension of scheduled 
procedures as well as comfort and willingness to complete these procedures by staff 
at each visit/procedure. All participants participating in this study or their LARs will be 
required to provide prospective informed consent. This will be completed via remote consent 
procedures (including e-consent with electronic signatures) which complies with 
requirements outlined in Title 21 CFR Part 11. We will email the ICF to the participant or 
LAR via a REDCap link. We will take special precautions to protect confidentiality (e.g. 
verbally (over video call) provide the participant and/or LAR with a unique code generated 
by REDCap that will grant access to ICF). The person consenting the participant or LAR will 
have the same consent discussion via phone or zoom that they would have had in-person 
(including asking questions to gauge comprehension and answering the participant’s or 
LAR’s questions). If the participant or LAR consents, they will complete and electronically 
sign the ICF (in all appropriate sections) directly in REDCap. Once the ICF (signed & dated 
by the participant or LAR) is received by the research team, the study team member who 
explained the study will electronically sign the appropriate signature line with the current 
date. They will then email a copy of the fully executed ICF back to the participant. They will 
document the consent process as appropriate. Study procedures will not begin until all aspects 
of the remote consent process is complete. A copy of the ICF will not be included in the 
participant’s Electronic Health Record. 


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For those age 16 or 17, parent/guardian consent will be obtained from at least one 
parent. Parent/guardian consent will be attempted to be obtained from both parents 
unless one parent is deceased, unknown, incompetent or not reasonably available due 
to travel or work. Permission will be obtained from someone other than a parent only 
when that person is a legal guardian of the potential participant. Assent will be 
obtained and documented from all participants that meet criteria and are willing to 
consent that are age 16 or 17. Documentation will be obtained by child signing 
Assent Form (ink or electronic signature if conducted via video conference), along 
with research staff personnel obtaining consent (ink or electronic signature if 
conducted via video conference). 
Randomization and Double-Blind: Participants that meet criteria for entry into the 
study based on the online screen and the clinical interview will be randomized to 
active NAC (low dose versus high dose), versus PBO. We will implement an adaptive 
randomization procedure similar to stratification called minimization. The purpose of 
the procedure is to ensure that the 3 groups are similar with respect to key 
demographic and clinical variables such as age, depression severity, NSSI severity 
and medication use. These variables will be shared by the research coordinator in a 
de-identified file with the study statistician, who will use the information to complete 
the randomization procedure. She will then share the group assignment with IDS. All 
participants, family members, and the entire research team will be blinded to active 
NAC versus PBO assignment. 
5. STUDY INTERVENTIONS  
5.1 
Interventions, Administration, and Duration  
Study intervention: N-acetylcysteine (NAC); 600mg capsules 
NAC is a natural product that may have promise for treating NSSI in adolescents. 
NAC is the N-acetyl derivative of the amino acid L-cysteine and a precursor of the 
antioxidant glutathione. It can be found in health food stores with other nutritional 
and dietary supplements. The bioavailability and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of 
intravenous (IV) and oral NAC have already been established in humans (Holdiness 
1991). 
Dispensing and administration of intervention: Participants will be provided with a 4-
week supply of study drug, plus an additional four days, on Day 1 (Visit 2) by the 
research coordinator. The study drug is a gelatin 0-size capsule, with a dose of 600mg 
per capsule. Participants will be provided with an extra four-day supply of study drug 
in case scheduling challenges occur, in order to ensure adequate dosing of study drug 
at post-dose biological sampling (PK analysis and 7T MRI scan). The research team 
will request subjects use a paper medication diary (calendar) or complete a survey via 
REDCap to optimize and track medication adherence. The participant will have the 
option of which method they would prefer to use (paper or survey). Participants will 
indicate this preference through the Medication Tracking Preference Form via 


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REDCap. If they prefer to receive the surveys, the participants will be asked whether 
they preferred survey delivery via text or email. The online survey will ask the 
participants to indicate whether they had taken their daily medication in the morning 
and afternoon. The participant will not be required to use either of the tracking 
methods, paper or survey. The research coordinator will contact the participants on 
day 3, 4 or 5 of study participation to check in about their adherence, their chosen 
method of adherence tracking and experiences with the study drug. They will be 
instructed to take 5 identical-appearing capsules in the morning and 4 in the evening 
(5400mg/day, n=12; 3600mg/day, n=12; PBO, n=12; participants in high-dose group 
will be given 5 active capsules in the morning and 4 active capsules in the evening, 
participants in low-dose group will be given a mix of active and placebo capsules (3 
active capsules and 2 placebo capsules in the morning, and 3 active capsules and 1 
placebo capsule in the evening), and the placebo group will receive all placebo 
capsules. Capsules will be taken by mouth, beginning Day 1(Visit 2) until the final 
visit (Visit 4; Day 28). Study capsules will be packaged to ensure that the correct 
capsules are taken at the correct day and time.  
NAC side effect reports in published studies of oral NAC have ranged from 81% 
reporting no side effect (N=1,392)(Tattersall, Bridgman, and Huitson 1983) to no 
significant between group differences in adverse events (N=75)(Berk et al. 2008). All 
potential adverse effects from NAC would be acute and reversible.  
Oral NAC may cause gastrointestinal adverse effects including nausea, stomach 
discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation, as well as headache and chest tightness (Behr 
et al. 1997; Oldemeyer et al. 2003). Adverse effects published resolved with 
discontinuing NAC demonstrating that effects would be acute and reversible. 
For participants that experience adverse effects likely or probably related to study 
drug the participant will be instructed to diminish their dose by 1 capsule daily until 
the absence of the adverse effect occurs (i.e. from 9 to 8 to 7, etc., until adverse effect 
is absent). The goal of tapering down to tolerance will be to allow the participant to 
remain in the study and tolerate the study drug. If a taper is needed, IDS will re-
package the study drug so that the blind is maintained and the correct number of 
active pills are taken.      
5.2 
Handling of Study Interventions  
The SW854 product will be procured from the company Swanson Health Products. It 
will then be given to the Investigational Drug Service (IDS) Pharmacy. IDS will 
manufacture matching placebo. The placebo capsules are identical in appearance and 
smell and taste as the active capsules. UMN IDS will handle all NAC and PBO 
allocation and dispensing. All participants, family members, and the entire research 
team will be blinded to active NAC versus PBO assignment.  If there are any leftover 
capsules not taken by a participant, these will be returned to IDS, recorded and 
disposed of according to University of Minnesota IDS procedures.   


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5.3 
Concomitant Interventions  
5.3.1 Allowed Interventions 
Participants will be allowed to continue their previous psychiatric medications and 
psychotherapy. A requirement for study entry is having psychiatric medications dose-
stable for one month. Changes to psychiatric medications during the study are 
strongly discouraged, and we will ask participants to promptly notify us of any 
changes. If such changes occur, the Principal Investigator and co-investigators Coles, 
Kartha or Cloyd will review the relevant information and potential interactions.  If it 
is determined that the new medication(s) raise potential safety concerns while being 
taken with NAC, the participant will be advised to stop taking study drug and still 
complete study visits as planned. Otherwise, the participant will continue. These 
changes will be documented and incorporated into sensitivity analyses as described in 
section 9.6. 
5.3.2 
Required Interventions 
N/A 
5.3.3 Prohibited Interventions 
Participants may not have previously taken NAC or glutathione on a regular basis for 
6 months prior to, or during, enrollment in the study. All psychotropic medications 
must be dose stable for 1 month prior to, and during, enrollment. 
5.4 
Adherence Assessment  
Adherence will be defined by completion of all in-person study visits (Visits 1, 2, 3, 
and 4), medication adherence of at least 80% (based on medication tracking and pill 
count at Days 14 and 28) and completion of at least 80% of in-person and at-home 
measures (complete at least 28/35 requested measures).  
6. STUDY PROCEDURES 


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6.1 
Schedule of Activities 
Measure/Activity/Event 
Visit 1  
(Day 0) 
Visit 2  
(Day 1) 
Day 3,  
4, or 5 
Day 7 
Visit 3  
(Day 14) Day 21  Visit 4  
(Day 28) 
24-72 hours 
after final 
dose 
Informed Consent Form (HIPAA/Consent/Assent)   
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unsecured Email Authorization Form 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guidelines And Consent For Text Message Correspondence 
Form 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wechsler Abbreviated Scale for Intelligence-II (WASI-II) 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Edinburgh Handedness Inventory 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Demographics Form 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Childhood Trauma Questionnaire 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
Ongoing Medication Use and Changes: Initial Visit 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ongoing Medication Use and Changes: Subsequent Visit 
 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
Antidepressant Medications 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Any Psychotropic Medications 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Treatment History 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alexian Brothers Urge to Self-Injure (ABUSI) 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI) 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS) 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury-Lifetime (ISAS-
Lifetime) 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury-Since Last Visit 
(ISAS-SLV) 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
Deliberate Self-Harm Questionnaire, Part III Mood (DSHQ-M) 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Cash Choice Task 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Medication Side Effect Checklist 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Measure/Activity/Event 
Visit 1  
(Day 0) 
Visit 2  
(Day 1) 
Day 3,  
4, or 5 
Day 7 
Visit 3  
(Day 14) Day 21  Visit 4  
(Day 28) 
24-72 hours 
after final 
dose 
Medication Tracking Preference Form 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provided with Medication Diary (if hard copy is elected) 
 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
MRI Safety Screen 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Urine Toxicology Screen 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Pregnancy Test 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
MRI 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Blood Sample (PK and biomarkers) 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provided with 32 day supply of intervention (NAC/PBO) 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Final dose of intervention 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
IV catheter/ needle stick(s) and blood samples (x 3-5) (PK) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Phone call (assess adverse effects, questions, concerns) 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
Pill count 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
X 
 


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6.2 
Description of Evaluations  
6.2.1 Screening Evaluation 
Consenting Procedure 
Consent procedures: The consent process with study candidates and/or their 
parent/guardian will be conducted by the research coordinator or principal 
investigator and will take place at the very first scheduled visit (in person or through 
video conferencing), Day 0, before the clinical assessment. They will receive copies 
of the parental consent, assent (if applicable), email authorization and HIPAA forms 
via encrypted email or USPS mail at least 24 hours before this appointment. The 
initial consent process will take place with research staff in a previously reserved 
room within the Ambulatory Research Center (ARC) at the University of Minnesota 
Department of Psychiatry (F212) Fairview Riverside West Building, or the Research 
in Adolescent Depression Lab at the University of Minnesota Medical School, or via 
video conference. During the initial consent visit staff will review the consent forms 
highlighting the most salient points such as study title, purpose, procedures, risks, 
benefits, alternatives, confidentiality, research related injury, voluntariness, and any 
additional signing/initial blocks such as permission to re-contact in the future and 
share data outside of this research study. Talk back method will be used during the 
consent visit to ensure study candidate and/or their parent/guardian (if applicable) are 
understanding these points. In addition, an approved version of the UCSD Brief 
Assessment of Capacity to Consent specific to this study will be used with all 
candidates during the consent process. Candidates that are not able to complete the 
UBACC or score less than 16 total points will not be consented and enrolled into the 
study. If a potential participant scores 0 or 1 on any question the information pertinent 
to that question will be reviewed and discussed with the participant. If the potential 
participant is then able to answer the question in full and research staff determines the 
potential participant fully understands the material, they will be scored the 2 points 
and then consented and enrolled. In addition to University and department mandatory 
consent training for appropriate research staff, all new staff will be trained in consent 
for this research study including observing the consent process, mock consent and 
observed for consent process. Throughout the course of the research study, 
participants will be gauged of their comprehension of scheduled procedures as well as 
comfort and willingness to complete these procedures by staff at each visit/procedure. 
All participants participating in this study or their LARs will be required to provide 
prospective informed consent. This will be completed via remote consent procedures 
(including e-consent with electronic signatures) which complies with requirements 
outlined in Title 21 CFR Part 11. We will email the ICF to the participant or LAR via 
a REDCap link. We will take special precautions to protect confidentiality (e.g. verify 
with the participant that the email is correct and it is acceptable to send the consent in 
this way). The person consenting the participant or LAR will have the same consent 
discussion via phone or zoom that they would have had in-person (including asking 
questions to gauge comprehension and answering the participant’s or LAR’s 
questions). If the participant or LAR consents, they will complete and electronically 
sign the ICF (in all appropriate sections) directly in REDCap. Once the ICF (signed & 


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dated by the participant or LAR) is received by the research team, the study team 
member who explained the study will electronically sign the appropriate signature 
line with the current date. They will then email a copy of the fully executed ICF back 
to the participant. They will document the consent process as appropriate. Study 
procedures will not begin until all aspects of the remote consent process is complete. 
A copy of the ICF will not be included in the participant’s Electronic Health Record. 
For those age 16 or 17, parent/guardian consent will be obtained from at least one 
parent. Parent/guardian consent will be attempted to be obtained from both parents 
unless one parent is deceased, unknown, incompetent or not reasonably available due 
to travel or work. Permission will be obtained from someone other than a parent only 
when that person is a legal guardian of the potential participant. Assent will be 
obtained and documented from all participants that meet criteria and are willing to 
consent that are age 16 or 17. Documentation will be obtained by child signing 
Assent Form (ink or electronic signature if conducted via video conference), along 
with research staff personnel obtaining consent as described above. 
Participants will be able to opt into receiving unencrypted email communication and 
texts from study staff for reminders about appointments or instructions. This process 
is discussed in Section 11.2 Informed Consent Forms. 
Screening 
Initial screening: Potential participants who respond to advertisements will be 
directed to an online, IRB approved study summary and will be prompted to complete 
a REDCap self-report survey to assess initial eligibility. For those who meet 
eligibility criteria and express interest in participating in the study, we will schedule 
candidates for an in-person or video conference meeting to fully explain study 
procedures and risks (i.e. Visit 1). At Visit 1, assessment interviews with participants 
will be conducted directly after the consent process and will finalize eligibility. 
Information obtained from online screen (age, gender, health history, NSSI 
frequency, diagnoses, medication history) will be confirmed at this time.  
Assessment of General Psychopathology and Demographic Information: We will 
screen for the presence of DSM-5 psychiatric diagnoses (American Psychiatric 
Association 2013b) at Visit 1 using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 
(MINI; (D. V. Sheehan et al. 1997). Clinicians formulate the diagnosis combining all 
clinical information. SITBI, Demographics Form, Anti-Depressant Medications form, 
Any Psychotropic Medications form, and Treatment History form will all be 
completed at Visit 1. MRI Safety Screen will be completed at Visit 2 prior to 
neuroimaging procedures.  
All screening evaluations must be completed in 60 days from screen to Visit 2 (Day 
1) and in 30 days from Visit 1 (Day 0) to Visit 2 (Day 1).  
For the medication history criterion (dose stable for 1 month) the timeline will 
measure from date of consent (i.e. psychotropic medications dose stable 1 month 
prior to consent date). 
An eligibility checklist will be used to fully document all pieces of eligibility. The 
following evaluation measures/forms will be used in screening eligibility: 


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• Online Screen Form 
• Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 
• Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI) 
• Antidepressant Medications 
• Any Psychotropic Medications 
• Treatment History Form 
• MRI Safety Screen 
• Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury-Lifetime (ISAS-Lifetime) 
• Eligibility Checklist 
The following table outlines each visit and measure used to assess each eligibility 
criterion: 


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Table 2 – Screening Measures and Visits 
Criterion Assessed 
Inclusion/Exclusion 
Visit/Event 
Measure/Form/Survey 
16-24 years old 
Inclusion 
Online screening 
Online Screen 
Female 
Inclusion 
Online screening 
Online Screen 
Generally medically healthy 
Inclusion 
Online screening 
Online Screen 
At least 1 NSSI episode in past 2 months 
Inclusion 
Online screening 
Visit 1 
Online Screen 
SITBI 
ISAS-Lifetime 
≥ 5 past episodes of NSSI with significant tissue damage 
(e.g. skin is broken or bruised, and/or scars resulted from 
the injury)  
 
Inclusion 
Online screening 
Visit 1 
Online Screen 
SITBI 
ISAS-Lifetime 
Psychotropic medications are dose-stable for 1 month. 
Inclusion 
Online screening 
Visit 1 
Online Screen 
Antidepressant Medications 
Any Psychotropic Medications 
Any MRI contraindications (e.g. metal plates, 
claustrophobia, braces, implanted devices) 
Exclusion 
Online screening 
Visit 2 
Visit 4 
Online Screen 
MRI Safety Screen 
Male 
Exclusion 
Online screening 
Online Screen 
Serious medical illness that involves the central nervous 
system, or which requires treatment that significantly 
impacts the central nervous system. 
Exclusion 
Online screening 
Online Screen 
Current Substance Use Disorder (except mild cannabis 
disorder, mild alcohol use disorder, or alcohol or 
substance use disorder in early remission with at least 3 
Exclusion 
Online screening 
Visit 1 
Online Screen 
MINI 


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months abstinence) 
Primary psychotic disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, 
schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder) 
Exclusion 
Online screening 
Visit 1 
Online Screen 
MINI 
Neurodevelopmental disorder such as mental retardation 
or autism 
Exclusion 
Online screening 
Visit 1 
Online Screen 
MINI 
Treatment History Form 
Changes in psychotropic medications in past 1 month 
Exclusion 
Online screening 
Visit 1 
Online Screen 
Antidepressant Medications 
Any Psychotropic Medications 
Taken NAC or glutathione on a regular basis in the past 6 
months 
Exclusion 
Online screening 
Visit 1 
Online screen 
Treatment History 
Currently pregnant, or planning to become pregnant 
Exclusion 
Online screening 
Visit 2 
Visit 4 
Online screen 
Pregnancy Test 
Allergy/sensitivity to N-acetylcysteine. 
Exclusion 
Online screening 
Visit 2 
Online screen 
Inability or unwillingness of individual or legal 
guardian/representative to give written informed consent.  
Exclusion 
Visit 1 
Consent forms 
 


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6.2.2 Enrollment, Baseline, and/or Randomization 
Enrollment 
Enrollment will be defined as the time at which the participant is randomized. 
Consent will occur at Visit 1 (Day 0). Randomization will occur after Visit 1 (Day 0), 
when it is confirmed that all eligibility criteria are met, and before Visit 2 (Day 1). 
There will be a maximum 30-day window between Visit 0 and Visit 1. Enrollment 
date will be recorded in OnCore (subject specific calendar), and Enrollment Log.  
Baseline Assessments 
Visit 1 (Day 0) Initial Assessments: 
• Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 
• Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI) 
• Edinburgh Handedness Inventory 
• Demographics Form 
• Anti-Depressant Medication Form 
• Any Psychotropic Medication Form 
• Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) 
• Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) 
• Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS-Lifetime) 
• Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) 
Visit 2 (Day 1) Baseline Assessments/Activities: 
• Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS) 
• Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) 
• Alexian Brothers Urge to Self-Injure (ABUSI) 
• Deliberate Self-Harm Questionnaire, Part III Mood (DSHQ-M) 
• Cash Choice Task 
• Side Effect Checklist 
• Ongoing Medication Uses and Changes: Initial Visit 
• MRI safety screen 
• Blood draw 
• Urine toxicology screen 
• Pregnancy test 
• Neuroimaging procedure (MRI brain scan)  


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• Wechsler Abbreviated Scale for Intelligence-II (WASI-II) 
 
Intervention dispensed with instructions (32-day supply) 
Clinical Assessment-Assessment of General Psychopathology and Demographic 
Information: To describe our sample and to determine criteria for ineligibility, we 
will screen for the presence of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-
5th edition (DSM-5) (American Psychiatric Association 2013a) psychiatric diagnoses 
(American Psychiatric Association 2013b). We will conduct a clinical interview with 
the participant using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI; (D. V. 
Sheehan et al. 1997) for all participants.  Assessment interviews will be conducted by 
trained research team members, directly after the consent process. Consent and 
baseline clinical assessment are expected to take 2 to 3 hours to complete. The 
Wechsler Abbreviated Scale for Intelligence-II (IQ; (Wechsler 2011) will be used to 
estimate intellectual functioning, to be completed on Day 1 or 28. The Edinburgh 
Handedness Inventory (Oldfield 1971) will be used to determine handedness, which 
will be incorporated into the analysis. We will monitor the groups’ equality with 
respect to socioeconomic status using the Hollingshead Four Factor Index of Social 
Status (Hollingshead 1975) after collecting demographic information with a self-
report form. We will also collect past antidepressant medication trials with an Anti-
Depressant Medication form, other psychotropic medications with Any Psychotropic 
Medications form and treatment history with Treatment History form, all via 
REDCap. The Child Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) (Bernstein D.P & Fink 1998) 
includes 6 questions about past trauma and 7 about recent trauma. Depression 
severity will be measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II; (Osman et 
al. 2004) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) (Kroenke et al. 2001). We 
will also administer the medication side effects checklist to assess baseline symptom 
overlap with responses to this checklist at later stages of the study. Assessment of 
NSSI and Suicidality. We will use the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors 
Interview (SITBI) (Nock et al. 2007) to elicit NSSI history (age of onset, total past 
episodes, episode frequency, reasons for NSSI, thoughts about NSSI, and other 
information) and use the Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury (ISAS-Lifetime) 
to assess the functions and frequency of behaviors of NSSI (Klonsky & Glenn 2009). 
We will use the Alexian Brothers Urge to Self-Injure (ABUSI) scale to assess urges 
to engage in NSSI. We will use the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS; (Beck, 
Kovacs, and Weissman 1979) to assess current suicidal ideation, including active 
suicidal desire, specific suicide plans, and passive suicidal desire. To retrospectively 
assess mood before, during and after NSSI events we will use the Deliberate Self 
Harm Questionnaire, Part III Mood (DSHQ-M). We will use the Distress Tolerance 
Scale (DTS) to assess emotional distress tolerance (Simons & Gaher 2005). We will 
use the one-question Cash Choice Task as a delay discounting measure to further 
assess executive functioning (Wulfert et al., 2002). Finally we will use the Side Effect 
Checklist to assess baseline symptoms on this form at Day 0, before participant takes 
study drug/placebo. The demographic history form, antidepressant medication form, 
any psychotropic medications form, treatment history form, PHQ-9, ISAS-SLV, 
ISAS-Lifetime, ABUSI, DTS, SITBI, Cash Choice Task, Side Effect Checklist, and 


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Ongoing Medication Uses and Changes: Initial Visit will be available online via 
REDCap. Paper versions will be available if necessary in the event that REDCap is 
down, computer unavailable, etc. Participants who are unable to complete all online 
self-report questionnaires in-person due to time constraints will be emailed an access 
code for each questionnaire and a link to the REDCap website. Upon opening the 
website link, they will be prompted to enter their access code in order to fill out 
questionnaires. Following the clinical evaluation, the study team will review all 
clinical information and determine final eligibility to decide whether the participant 
will move forward to randomization. A summary of the diagnostic findings will be 
provided to the participant (and for those aged 16-17 years, the parent). This clinical 
information will be given verbally, and by request we will additionally provide a 
written summary of the clinical findings. All potential participants that inquire about 
study participation but do not meet criteria for participation will be offered referral 
guidance for clinical care to Fairview and University of Minnesota Psychiatry 
services in cases where care is not currently established. 
Biological Assessments: Following the informed consent, baseline clinical 
assessment and (if eligible) randomization, participants will be invited to the CMRR 
for a 2-3 hour visit. During the global COVID pandemic, for all in-person visits, upon 
arrival, participants will complete COVID screen, follow pandemic related safety 
precautions including use of face mask and social distancing as outlined in the 
approved sunrise plan submitted by PI Dr. Cullen. They will then complete a blood 
draw, a urine toxicology screen, pregnancy test and an MRI safety screen, followed 
by neuroimaging procedures as described below. For the urine tests, the participant 
will provide a urine sample, and the research staff will apply the urine pregnancy test 
strip and the urine toxicology test strip according to the package instructions. 
Research staff will record the results in the CRF and discard the urine sample and the 
test strips according to standard CMRR procedures. If urine pregnancy test is 
positive, staff will not complete the MRI scan on the participant. The participant will 
also no longer meet criteria for the study, and will be removed from the study. If the 
toxicology screen is positive, results will be noted on the MRI CRF form and the 
participant will continue on with the MRI scan. Participants that do not pass the MRI 
safety screen will not receive MRI scan and will be allowed to remain in the study. 
Parents of participants, even those under 18 years of age, will not be informed of 
pregnancy or urine toxicology test results. The research team will utilize the CMRR 
Center’s Subject Information Form and adhere to the SOP during enrollment of all 
research participants in this protocol. The CMRR Center’s Subject Information Form 
and SOP are IRB approved under the CMRR Center Grant (HSC# 1406M51205) and 
information regarding these procedures is publicly available on the CMRR website 
(CMRR Policies / Procedures). 
Randomization 
Randomization and Double-Blind: Participants who meet criteria for entry into the 
study (based on the online screen and the clinical interview) and consent to 
participate will be randomized to active NAC high dose versus active NAC low dose 
versus PBO (1:1:1). We will implement an adaptive randomization procedure called 
minimization. The purpose of the procedure is to ensure that the 3 treatment groups 


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are similar with respect age, NSSI severity, and medication use. Specifically, the 
minimization procedure will balance age groups <19 vs. 19+ years, NSSI severity 
category mild vs. moderate vs. severe; and anti-depressant use vs. no anti-depressant 
use. Following the evaluation, the study coordinator will share numerical values for 
these variables along with the subject ID number through a secure system (Box 
Secure Storage) with the study statistician, Dr. Eberly. Dr. Eberly will use participant 
information to assign a blinded randomization group (A, B, or C) using the 
minimization procedure.  
 
The study statistician will then pass the blinded group assignment to IDS. Before the 
first participant is randomized, IDS will randomly assign “NAC high” “NAC low” 
and “PBO” to the letters A, B, and C; this assignment (of treatment name to treatment 
letter) will not be communicated to anyone outside of IDS until the study is complete 
and the study team is ready to break the blind. Randomization will occur after Visit 1 
(Day 0), when it is confirmed all eligibility criteria are met and before Visit 2 (Day 
1), with a maximum 30 day window between them. 
6.2.3 Blinding 
All participants, family members, and study staff (including the study statistician) 
will be blinded to treatment assignment. Study staff will not discuss data collected 
with the research participant. The research coordinator will be the main person 
communicating with the participant and completing in-person visits with them; this 
staff member will not engage in any data analysis while study is actively enrolling 
and conducting visits. The IDS pharmacist will be authorized to break the blind in the 
event of a medical emergency in which the medical team caring for the participant 
feels that knowledge of the identity of the study drug is necessary. Participants will 
have IDS emergency contact information. In the event breaking the blind is 
necessary, IDS pharmacist will communicate to the participant and their medical care 
team information about the study intervention (NAC versus placebo, dose, inactive 
ingredients, etc.).  
Any interim reports on the data generated by the research team for the Independent 
Monitoring Committee (IMC) will be generated as the IMC requests. If this occurs 
we will bring onto the project a statistician from the Biostatistical Design and 
Analysis Center (BDAC) within the University of Minnesota's CTSI to handle the 
unblended analyses. The breaking of the treatment blind for all participants will not 
occur until the last consented participant has completed their treatment period or 
earlier if the study is stopped early based on IMC recommendation. 
6.2.4 Follow-up Visits 
Day 7 (+/- 2 days) Assessments/Activities: 
• At-home online assessments: 
o PHQ-9 
o Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury, since last visit (ISAS-SLV) 
o Side Effect Checklist 


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o Ongoing Medication Uses and Changes: Subsequent Visits 
Visit 3 (Day 14 +/- 2 days) Assessments/Activities: 
• In-person or video conference assessments: 
o PHQ-9 
o ISAS-SLV 
o Side Effect Checklist 
o Ongoing Medication Uses and Changes: Subsequent Visits 
• Capsules count previous dispensed amount, check medication tracking table 
or REDCap survey records (participant counts pills over zoom during 14-day 
visit if it is conducted virtually) 
Day 21 (+/- 2 days) Assessments/Activities: 
• At-home online assessments: 
o PHQ-9 
o Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury, since last visit (ISAS-SLV) 
o Side Effect Checklist 
o Ongoing Medication Uses and Changes: Subsequent Visits 
 
6.2.5 Completion/Final Evaluation 
In the context of the global pandemic, we have shortened the final visit to reduce the 
time that participants will be required to be indoors in the CMRR. Thus, during the 
pandemic, we will utilize an abbreviated protocol (3 hours instead of 8, with fewer 
blood draws.) The PI will determine if and when to resume the original PK sample 
collection scheme (longer protocol) for visit 4 once it is safe to do so based on the 
status of the global pandemic and the guidance from the University.  
Visit 4 (Day 28-32 days) Assessment/Activities per abbreviated PK sample collection 
scheme: 
• COVID screen 
• MRI Safety Screen 
• Urine Toxicology Screen 
• Pregnancy Test 
• IV catheter placement or a series of needle stick(s) if the participant prefers  
• 3-5 blood collections 
• Neuroimaging procedure (MRI brain scan) 
• PHQ-9 


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• BDI-II 
• BSS 
• ABUSI 
• ISAS-SLV 
• DSHQ-M 
• Cash Choice Task 
• Side Effect Checklist 
• Ongoing Medication Uses and Changes: Subsequent Visits 
Participants will return to the CMRR for a 3-8 hour visit ~4-weeks after beginning 
study drug, on Day 28 - 32 and present their remaining medications for capsule count 
to assess drug compliance. This visit will entail a repeat of the baseline neuroimaging 
procedure and multiple blood collections for PK analysis. The participant will be 
asked if they would prefer placement of IV catheter versus a series of needle sticks 
every time a blood sample is collected. We will collect an initial blood sample to 
measure trough NAC and CYS levels, as well as oxidative stress measurements 
detailed below. Then, participants will take their final oral dose. We will collect 
additional blood samples (2-5) starting at 15 minutes and ending at ~120-300 minutes 
following the final oral dose to measure NAC and CYS levels (abbreviated COVID-
19 protocol: just 2 post-NAC dose blood draws, one right before and one right after 
the MRI scan). Neuroimaging will begin ~15 minutes after the final dose and will last 
~60-90 minutes. Following this MRI scan, participants will be interviewed to 
ascertain medication side effects using a checklist.  Although this study is not 
designed to examine clinical effects, to allow for exploratory analyses examining 
links between concurrent symptoms and biology, we will ask participants to complete 
the ABUSI, an abbreviated form of the SITBI (modified to query the NSSI thoughts, 
urges and behaviors since the prior clinical assessment), the ISAS-SLV to assess 
NSSI episodes, BDI-II, PHQ-9 and BSSI to assess depression symptoms and current 
suicidal thoughts and behaviors, the DSHQ-M to assess mood in relationship to NSSI 
episodes, and the one-question Cash Choice Task as a delay discounting measure 
(Wulfert et al., 2002) . The PHQ-9, ISAS-SLV, ABUSI, DTS, Cash Choice Task, 
Side Effect Checklist, and Ongoing Medication Uses and Changes: Subsequent Visits 
will be available online via REDCap. Paper versions will be available if necessary 
(REDCap down, computer unavailable, etc.) Participants who are unable to complete 
all online self-report questionnaires in-person due to time constraints will be emailed 
an access code for each questionnaire and a link to the REDCap website. Upon 
opening the website link, they will be prompted to enter their access code in order to 
fill out questionnaires. Upon administration of the final dose of study drug, 
participants will be instructed to inform study staff of any potential adverse effects 
that occur after leaving the research facility. In addition, 24-72 hours after the final 
dose of NAC, participants will receive a phone call from study staff to assess any 
potential adverse effects after the final dose of study drug and address any lingering 
questions/concerns about study participation and/or referral suggestions for future 


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clinical care addressing NSSI or psychiatric symptoms/co-morbidities. If the 
participant unexpectedly needs to have their final visit rescheduled, we will prescribe 
an additional small supply of study medication to allow the participant to continue 
taking study medication up until the final visit, to a maximum of 35 days. 
 
Payment 
Participants will be compensated directly using the Greenphire ClinCard. Each task completed 
will have attached a specific compensation amount. Once the task is completed research staff 
will load the amount attached to that task on to the participants Greenphire ClinCard.  In cases 
where a participant only completed a portion of a visit, a portion of the compensation would be 
provided depending on what was completed. If any visit or part of the visit needs to be repeated 
for reasons beyond participants’ control, they would be compensated. 
 
1) Day 0 (in-person or through video conferencing) (visit 1): Initial clinical 
assessment: $40 
2) Day 1 (in-person visit 2): Baseline assessments, MRI scan and blood draw: 
$50 
3) Day 7 (at home): Online questionnaires: $10 
4) Day 14 (in-person or through video conferencing) (visit 3): Mid-study visit 
questionnaires: $10 
5) Day 21 (at home): Online questionnaires: $10 
6) Day 28 - 32 (in-person visit 4): Post-dose MRI and blood samples (over 3- 
4hours per abbreviated PK sample collection plan or 6-8 hrs): $200 
7) Total Compensation Per Participant for R61 = $320. Participants may also 
choose to receive course extra credit as partial or total payment instead of cash 
(Research Experience Points) for their participation in this study (each ½ hour 
of assessment is worth 1 REP point).  
Research Related Injury 
There is no compensation for research related injury. The participant or the participants 
insurance company will be financially responsible for any injury occurring because of 
participating in this study. 
7. SAFETY ASSESSMENTS  
Safety will be monitored throughout the study. Here we review the risks associated 
with the study and how we will monitor for these risks.   
1. Monitoring for safety related to taking NAC: Side effect reports in published 
studies of oral NAC have ranged from 81% reporting no side effects 
(N=1,392)(Tattersall, Bridgman, and Huitson 1983) to no significant between 
group differences in adverse events (N=75)(Berk et al. 2008). Oral NAC may 
cause gastrointestinal adverse effects including nausea, stomach discomfort, 


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diarrhea, and constipation, as well as headache, chest tightness, rash and/or 
itching. (Behr et al. 1997; Oldemeyer et al. 2003). These problems were 
reported as resolved following discontinuation of NAC. Adverse effects due 
to NAC will be monitored using the Side Effects Checklist. Participants who 
experience adverse effects which are bothersome and which are deemed likely 
or probably related to study drug will be instructed to decrease their dose by 1 
capsule daily until they tolerate the study drug. 
2. Monitoring for safety related to IV catheter placement and blood collection: 
The risks of the IV catheter and blood collection include pain at the site, 
bleeding, bruising, fainting and/or dizziness, superficial phlebitis and 
infection. These risks will be lessened by using trained technicians to perform 
this procedure. These potential adverse effects would be acute and reversible.   
3. Monitoring for safety related to suicide risk: Our study population is at 
increased risk for suicide attempts (Horwitz, Czyz, and King 2015; Tang et al. 
2011; Victor and Klonsky 2014). Suicide risk will be monitored throughout 
the study in the form of questionnaires and interviews. If a concern for 
imminent suicide risk is identified, the study team will conduct a more in-
depth safety assessment and will engage the adolescent in safety planning. As 
indicated, this safety assessment and planning may include the parent(s), other 
family members, treatment team, and / or referral for emergency services / 
hospitalization. Refer to Supplement IV: RAD Lab procedure on suicide and 
self-harm behavior risk. 
4. Monitoring for safety related to clinical assessment: Some of the questions 
that participants will be asked may make them feel uncomfortable or upset. 
These pertain to psychiatric and medical history, behavioral and psychiatric 
symptomatology. Participants are informed that they do not have to answer 
any question that makes them feel uncomfortable. Clinicians interviewing the 
participants will remind them of this, as well as use empathy to gauge their 
discomfort. Staff will be sufficiently trained to handle these situations. If 
participants are not able to share enough critical information needed for the 
study (e.g. inclusion and exclusion criteria, NSSI etc.) the participant will be 
withdrawn. 
5. Monitoring for safety related to MRI scanning: The MRI scanning device will 
be a 7.0 Tesla MRI scanner. This device has been evaluated by the FDA as 
having non-significant risk for persons more than one month of age and data 
already reviewed by the UMN IRB indicate that the 7.0 Tesla magnetic field 
does not pose a significant risk to human volunteers. All participants will be 
screened according to CMRR policies to minimize risks to participants. If 
participants are not able to tolerate the scanning session, it will stop and they 
will exit the study. These are the specific risks related to MRI scanning: 
a) Exposure to high magnetic field: The primary known hazard associated 
with exposure to a static high magnetic field is that the magnet exerts a 
strong force on ferromagnetic objects. Metallic objects that are entered the 
magnetic field can accelerate into the magnet potentially causing damage 


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to the magnet or persons in the magnet room. In addition, implanted 
metallic objects can be displaced. MRI may not be appropriate in the 
presence of the following conditions: cardiac pacemaker; metal fragments 
in eye, skin, body; mechanical heart valve replacement; brain clips; 
venous umbrella; being a sheet-metal worker or welder; aneurysm 
surgery; intracranial bypass; renal, aortic clips; middle ear, eye, joint, or 
penile implants; joint replacements; hearing aid; neurostimulator; insulin 
pump; intra-uterine device (IUD); shunts/stents anywhere in the body; 
metal mesh/coil implants; metal plate/pin/screws/wires anywhere in the 
body, any other metal implants; permanent eyeliner or permanent artificial 
eyebrows. All participants will be initially screened first via the online 
screen before enrollment, then using the CMRR Safety Screening Form at 
the day of MR scanning. The CMRR Safety Screening Form will not be 
submitted, as further updates are rolled out by the Center for Magnetic 
Resonance Research. The study will use the published version of the form 
on the website (https://www.cmrr.umn.edu/policies/). Participants that do 
not pass screening will not enter the CMRR where magnetic fields exist.  
b) Radiofrequency pulses impart small amounts of energy into the 
participant. No ionizing radiation is used with MRI. Because the pulse 
sequences to be used fall within FDA guidelines and will not be operated 
outside of safe limits, we do not expect any hazard associated with power 
deposition. To prevent inadvertent application of significant energies 
which may result in heating, the scanning systems include monitoring with 
both a hardware and a software monitor. Participants will be instructed to 
report any heating sensation immediately, and that the scan could be 
stopped at any time if this occurs.  
c) Peripheral nerve stimulation from rapidly switching magnetic fields 
(dB/dt) during the scanning procedure may occur. As a result, the 
participant may experience muscle twitching or tingling sensations lasting 
seconds to minutes. This is considered to occur seldomly. Participants are 
instructed that if twitches do occur, they should immediately inform the 
operator. This would be a short-lived side effect and reversible.  
d) Acoustic noise: MR imaging creates acoustic noise because of pulsing 
currents through the gradient coils within the magnetic field. A repetitive 
tapping sound occurs as a result. Ear plugs are provided to the participant 
to prevent hearing damage and provide comfort 
e) Claustrophobia: Some people undergoing this procedure become anxious 
and afraid when in closed spaces. Participants will be instructed that they 
can stop procedure at any time. The MRI technologist will be in 
communication with the participant during the scan and ask them how 
they are doing. In addition, participants will be given a squeeze ball to 
communicate an urgent need or concern. Participants are screened for 
claustrophobia before enrollment.  
f) Anatomical abnormalities revealed: There is a possibility that the MRI 


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scan would reveal unknown and unlooked for abnormalities such as a cyst, 
vascular abnormality or a tumor. The scan results will be routinely sent to 
a radiologist for review. If an abnormality is uncovered, the participants 
are informed of the results of the radiology review and are encouraged to 
follow up with their physician. We would provide participants physicians 
with a copy of the imaging data that we collect upon request.  
g) Dizziness and nausea: Dizziness and nausea are rare though may occur if 
the participants head moves around while they are inside the magnet. If 
this occurs, this would be acute and reversible, and should resolve within a 
few minutes without intervention. 
6. Participants under the age of 18 will provide assent along with parental 
consent. The potential benefit for those engaging in NSSI, aged 16-24, from 
the insight gained because of this study outweighs the risks of this study. Risk 
is minimized by using dosages of NAC determined to be safe from previous 
research. Study procedures are minimal risk, and staff will be appropriately 
trained for all study procedures. Checklist HRP-416 is provided. 
7. Email Risks: Participants will be able to opt in to communicating with study 
staff via unencrypted email to arrange their appointments and receive study 
instructions. There are risks associated with email communication, and these 
risks increase when the emails are sent without an encryption service. Risks of 
sending or receiving emails without encryption include, but are not limited to: 
a) Others can intercept messages 
b) If messages are sent or received on an employer-owned device, the 
employer may have the right to save and read the messages. The internet 
or cell-phone provider may also have the right to save and read email 
messages. 
c) A copy of the message may be saved on a device or computer system, 
even if it is deleted. 
d) If an email address is not typed correctly, it can be sent to the wrong 
person 
e) Emails can spread computer viruses. 
f) Others may be able to access messages on devices that were lost, stolen, or 
thrown away. If a user changes emails without notifying study staff, they 
may miss communications. 
8. Text communication Risks: Participants may opt in to communicating with 
study staff via texting a University-owned cell phone to arrange study 
appointments and receive other study updates. There are risks associated with 
text communication, including but not limited to: 
a) Others can intercept messages 
b) If messages are sent or received on an employer-owned device, the 
employer may have the right to save and read the messages. The internet or 


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cell-phone provider may also have the right to save and read messages. 
c) A copy of the message may be saved on a device, even if it is deleted 
d) If the phone number is not typed correctly, it may be sent to the wrong 
person 
e) Others may be able to access messages on devices that were lost, stolen, or 
thrown away 
f) If a user changes phone numbers without notifying study staff, they may 
miss communications. 
Participants will be notified that the phone will only be monitored during business 
hours (Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM), unless they have an appointment scheduled outside 
of those hours. They will be informed that they should not use this phone as an 
emergency contact number as well. Texts that are sent to the study phone will be 
regularly deleted, unless they are found to be significant to the participant’s study 
record or safety. In this case, screen shots of the texts may be saved, sent to the 
study email address, and redacted to protect privacy. Please refer to Section 18.0 
Confidentiality for redaction procedures. Study staff will not store the 
participant’s name in the phone’s contact book. Their number will be saved with 
their study ID code so study staff may identify them during conversations; once 
the participant completes participation in the study, their contact will be deleted. 
Participants do not have to opt in to text communication in this study. If they 
change their mind about communicating via text, they can notify staff at any time 
about their communication preferences. If the participant would like to start using 
text during the study, they will need to sign a text communication consent form, 
discussed in Section 11.2 Informed Consent Forms. 
7.1 
Specification of Safety Parameters 
 
Participants will be asked about their health at the mid-study visit (Day 14) and final 
study visit (Day 28-32).  Participants will be instructed to immediately inform the 
study team if any serious concerns arise with their health during the study.  
The Side Effect Checklist (given at baseline, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3 and Week 4) 
will be used to assess NAC tolerability. If the side effect is marked as “1” (mild, does 
not interfere with functioning), nothing will be done. If the side effect is marked as 
“2” (moderate, some interference with functioning), or “3” (severe, functioning is 
significantly impaired because of side effects), and this rating denotes an elevation 
from baseline, and is considered to be at least possibly related to study intervention 
by the Principal Investigator and/or the Independent Clinical Monitor, we will discuss 
with participant (and, for adolescents under 18, the parent or guardian) to further 
assess the participant’s impairment from the issue and make a joint decision about the 
risks versus benefits of staying at the same dose versus decreasing the dose. This 
determination will consider the frequency and the level of impairment associated with 
the side effect. 


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The PHQ-9, the BDI-II and the BSSI (given at baseline, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3 
and Week 4) will all be used to assess suicide risk. If the participant indicates 
elevations in suicidal thinking (e.g. marks a “2” on the question about suicidal 
thinking on the BSSI) this will trigger a deeper safety assessment as described below.  
 
7.2 
Methods and Timing for Assessing, Recording, and Analyzing Safety 
Parameters 
The weekly assessment for side effects and suicide risk assessment is based on 
recommendations from the FDA’s 2004 recommendations that adolescents be seen 
weekly in the first month of antidepressant treatment to allow for suicide risk 
assessment. 
The study team will review the results of the weekly questionnaires (side effect 
checklist, ISAS-SLV, PHQ-9) on a weekly basis. In addition, if the participant 
responded a “2” to any of the following questions on the BSSI: 9, 12, 13, 15, or 16 
(these responses correspond to the statements "I cannot keep myself from committing 
suicide”, "I have a specific plan for killing myself",  "I have access or anticipate 
having access to the method that I would choose for killing myself and also have or 
shall have the opportunity to use it", "I am sure that I shall make a suicide attempt", 
and "I have almost finished or completed my preparations for committing suicide,” 
respectively), this will immediately trigger an automatic email to the study team with 
the item response and the participant ID, alerting them to contact the participant as 
soon as possible to assess safety and engage in safety planning. Similarly, if the 
participant responded a “3” to any question on the side effects checklist, the study 
team will receive an email prompting them to contact the participant as soon as 
possible. 
The study team will follow up with all participants who rated side effect items as a 
“moderate” or “severe” to further assess the impact that these issues are having on 
their functioning. The study team will also follow up with participants or who 
spontaneously raised concerns about their health. Side effects or other health changes 
that are confirmed by the research team to be significantly impacting functioning (e.g. 
interfering with school, work, requiring treatment) will be labeled as adverse events 
(AEs). All adverse events will be reviewed by the Independent Clinical Monitor who 
will assist the PI in determining relatedness, whether the AE constitutes an 
Unexpected Problem (see below) and what corrective measures should be taken (e.g. 
decrease dose, discontinue treatment, withdraw participant.) The study team will log 
adverse effects including their timing, relatedness to the study drug, corrective 
measures taken, and resolution.  
7.3 
Adverse Events and Serious Adverse Events  
An adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a subject during 
participation in the clinical study or with use of the experimental agent being studied. 
An adverse finding can include a sign, symptom, abnormal assessment (laboratory 
test value, vital signs, electrocardiogram finding, etc.), or any combination of these 
regardless of relationship to participation in the study. 


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A serious adverse event (SAE) is one that meets one or more of the following criteria: 
• Results in death 
• Is life-threatening (places the subject at immediate risk of death from the 
event as it occurred) 
• Results in inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization 
• Results in a persistent or significant disability or incapacity 
• Results in a congenital anomaly or birth defect   
An important medical event that may not result in death, be life threatening, or 
require hospitalization may be considered an SAE when, based upon appropriate 
medical judgment, the event may jeopardize the subject and may require medical or 
surgical intervention to prevent one of the outcomes listed in this definition. A suicide 
attempt will be considered an SAE. 
 
Unanticipated problems are defined as any incidence, experience, or outcome that is:  
• Unexpected (in terms of nature, severity, or frequency) given the information 
provided in research-related documents and the characteristics of the subject 
population being studied;  
• Related or possibly related to participation in the research; and  
• Suggests that the research places subjects or others at a greater risk of harm 
than was previously known or recognized. 
Adverse Events, Unanticipated Problems and Serious Adverse Events will be 
recorded by study staff throughout the study occurring any time after informed 
consent is obtained until 7 (for non-serious AEs) or 30 days (for SAEs) after the last 
day of study participation. These will be recorded in an Excel document and kept on 
file in an electronic secure UMN Box folder for the study. There will be no 
identifying information recorded in this document and subjects will be identified by 
subject ID number (GRID number). In addition to whether AE was UP or SAE, 
details of event, and date of occurrence, we will also label organ system where it 
occurred (general, psychiatric, nervous system, etc.), severity, expectedness, 
relationship to study, if it was reported and date of reporting if so, day of trial it 
occurred (i.e. 1-32), if resolution/stabilization occurred and date of 
resolution/stabilization. All adverse events will be reviewed with the assigned 
Independent Clinical Monitor to assist in characterizing the adverse event (e.g. 
relatedness to study drug, determining if it should be classified as an Unexpected 
Problem), whether the new information warrants a change to the protocol or 
consent form (e.g. description of risks) and whether a dose change or participant 
withdrawal is indicated. 
At each study visit (Days 1, 14, and 28 - 32) study staff will inquire about the 
occurrence of AE/SAEs since the last visit.  If AE is ongoing and resolution of AE 


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has not occurred at time of reporting by subject, study staff will assess 
resolution/stabilization 1 week later via phone contact. Study staff will cease to assess 
previous AE of a participant 2 weeks after last day of study participation by that 
participant.  
Safety review by Independent Monitoring Committee will occur if resolution of AE 
has not occurred 2 weeks after discontinuing study drug (due to study completion or 
dropout) and AE is considered to be related to study intervention (possibly, probably 
or definitely) by study PI. 
7.4 
Reporting Procedures 
 
The Study PI, the Independent Clinical Monitor and the Independent Monitoring 
Committee will be responsible for determining whether an SAE is expected or 
unexpected.  An adverse event will be considered unexpected if the nature, severity, 
or frequency of the event is not consistent with the risk information previously 
described for the intervention. 
Incidents or events that meet the OHRP criteria for unanticipated problems require 
the creation and completion of an unanticipated problem report form. OHRP 
recommends that investigators include the following information when reporting an 
adverse event, or any other incident, experience, or outcome as an unanticipated 
problem to the IRB: 
• Appropriate identifying information for the research protocol, such as the title, 
investigator’s name, and the IRB project number; 
• A detailed description of the adverse event, incident, experience, or outcome; 
• An explanation of the basis for determining that the adverse event, incident, 
experience, or outcome represents an unanticipated problem;  
• A description of any changes to the protocol or other corrective actions that 
have been taken or are proposed in response to the unanticipated problem. 
To satisfy the requirement for prompt reporting, unanticipated problems will be 
reported using the following timeline:   
• Unanticipated problems that are serious adverse events will be reported to the 
Independent Monitoring Committee, and NCCIH within 7 days of the 
investigator becoming aware of the event.  
• Any other unanticipated problem will be reported to the Independent 
Monitoring Committee, and NCCIH within 14 days of the investigator 
becoming aware of the problem.  
All unanticipated problems should be reported to appropriate institutional officials (as 
required by an institution’s written reporting procedures), the supporting agency head 
(or designee), and OHRP within one month of the IRB’s receipt of the report of the 
problem from the investigator. 
The following will be reported to Advarra IRB, the external IRB overseeing this 


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research study, within 10 days: 
• Unanticipated problem that adversely affects the risk/benefit ratio of the 
study, or rights, safety, or welfare of the participants or others, or integrity of 
the study. (Advarra IRB form: Safety Information and Unanticipated Problem 
Report) 
• An adverse event that is serious, unanticipated, and [study] related. (Advarra 
IRB form: Safety Information and Unanticipated Problem Report) 
• Any change from Board-approved protocol that adversely affects the 
risk/benefit ratio of the study, or rights, safety, or welfare of the participants or 
others, or integrity of the study. (Advarra IRB form: Safety Information and 
Unanticipated Problem Report) 
• Any prospective request for an intentional deviation from the IRB approved 
protocol except when necessary to eliminate an apparent immediate hazard to 
a participant. (Advarra IRB forms: Copy of Sponsor approval and Prospective 
Waiver/ Exception Request Form) 
• A complaint associated with the study regarding an alleged breach of the 
rights, safety, or welfare of the participants or others, or integrity of the study. 
(Advarra IRB form: Safety Information and Unanticipated Problem Report) 
• Any adverse finding issued to, or enforcement action taken against, the PI. 
(Advarra IRB forms: Copy of the adverse audit results, enforcement action, 
etc. and Safety Information and Unanticipated Problem Report 
• Any significant problems, violations, research-related accidents and illnesses 
must be reported. Spills or accidents in BL2 laboratories resulting in an overt 
exposure must be immediately reported. (Advarra IRB form: Safety 
Information and Unanticipated Problem Report) 
Investigators in the Department of Psychiatry conducting clinical drug trials are 
required to notify The Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental 
Disabilities (OMHDD) within 24 hours of a U of M research participant’s death or 
serious injury. This includes suicide attempt. The Ombudsman Reporting Transmittal 
Form is used by HRPP and the University of Minnesota Principal Investigator to 
report to OMHDD pursuant to Minnesota Statute 245.92 and 245.94. Reports of death 
or serious injury of locally enrolled study participants in psychiatry clinical drug trials 
must use the Transmittal Form as the cover page to the applicable report form 
available on the OMHDD website. 
Reporting to Advarra IRB, the University of Minnesota IRB, the OMHDD, the 
NCCIH and the Independent Monitoring Committee will be performed by the 
Research Coordinator (Siddhee Sahasrabudhe), Regulatory Specialist (Kathleen 
Thaemlitz) or the Principal Investigator (Kathryn Cullen). 
SAEs that are unanticipated, serious, and possibly related to the study intervention 
will be reported to the Independent Monitoring Committee, IRB, FDA, and NCCIH 
in accordance with requirements.  For the IND:  


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• 7-day IND Safety Report (unexpected fatal or life-threatening AEs related to 
the intervention); a copy of the report sent to the FDA will be submitted to the 
NCCIH Program Officer and Independent Monitoring Committee within 24 
hours of FDA notification.  
• 15-day IND Safety Report (any other serious and unexpected AE related to 
the intervention); a copy of the report submitted to the FDA will be submitted 
to the NCCIH Program Officer and Independent Monitoring Committee 
within 24 hours of FDA notification.  
• All other AEs documented during the course of the trial will be reported to 
NCCIH on an annual basis by way of inclusion in the annual report and in the 
annual AE summary which will be provided to NCCIH and to the Independent 
Monitoring Committee.  The Independent Monitoring Committee Report will 
state that all AEs have been reviewed. 
Pregnancy is an MRI contraindication and is a part of exclusion criteria. If a potential 
subject is pregnant, they will not pass screening as a result. If a subject becomes 
pregnant while enrolled in the study, they will then no longer meet criteria, be 
ineligible and be removed from the study. Since we conduct a pregnancy test prior to 
MRI scanning, this will be picked up before MRI scanning. This will be recorded in 
our enrollment log if occurs. Since there are no known risks associated with NAC and 
pregnancy, study staff will not report this immediately, but will be reported as part of 
the enrollment log when reporting to Advarra IRB continuing review, as well as any 
other reporting that includes the enrollment log (Independent Monitoring Committee, 
FDA, NCCIH). 
7.5 
Follow-up for Adverse Events 
If AE is still present at the time it is reported, it will be re-assessed one week later 
either in person, via online survey or via phone. If the AE is still present 2 weeks after 
last day of study participation, it will be considered stable, and we will not continue 
assessments. Safety review by Independent Monitoring Committee will occur if 
resolution of AE has not occurred 2 weeks after discontinuing study drug (due to 
study completion or dropout) and AE is considered to be related to study intervention 
(possibly, probably or definitely) by study PI and the Independent Clinical Monitor. 
7.6 
Safety Monitoring  
The Principal Investigator has appointed an Independent Monitoring Committee for 
this research study. The members include the following: Dr. David Brent, M.D., a 
child psychiatrist with expertise in adolescents at risk for self-harm from University 
of Pittsburgh; Dr. Manpreet Singh, a child psychiatrist from Stanford University with 
expertise in adolescent depression and clinical trials; Dr. Bin Cheng, an Associate 
Professor of biostatistics from Columbia University Medical Center. The Committee 
will meet for the first time 6 months after the start of study enrollment, and then again 
one year later. The PI has also assigned Dr. Gamze Balci Camsari to act as the 
Independent Clinical Monitor to assist the PI in (1) assessing and characterize adverse 
events (2) determining whether study drug should be reduced or discontinued, and (3) 


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determining whether the participant should be withdrawn from study procedures. 
8. INTERVENTION DISCONTINUATION  
The intervention will be discontinued in the following circumstances: 
• If the participant is unable to tolerate the study medication due to side effects 
or allergic reaction, even after decreasing the dose, as determined by a 
conversation between the PI (or delegate) and the participant.  
• If the participant elects to no longer take the study medication.  
• If the participant becomes actively suicidal with intent and plan, and cannot 
agree to a safety plan engaged by study team (see Supplement IV). 
• If the participant or parent of minor participant withdraws consent.  
• If the participant becomes pregnant.     
• If the IMC or the Medical Monitor recommend participant withdrawal due to 
safety concerns. 
Discontinuing the intervention will also be considered in the following circumstances: 
• If a participant engages in NSSI with significant tissue damage that requires 
urgent/emergency medical care, study staff will assess safety of participant 
and engage participant (and parents of minors) in a safety conversation to 
discuss how to increase safety in the home, whether hospitalization is needed, 
and whether continuing in the study is appropriate (See Supplement IV). If it 
is deemed safe by study staff with respective input from NCCIH, FDA, 
Advarra IRB and/or IMC when necessary and participant (and parents of 
minors) desire to continue, remaining study visits will be completed.  
• If a participant fails to adhere to protocol requirements, study staff will assess 
safety of participant with respect to protocol deviation(s) and engage 
participants (and parents of minors) in conversation to discuss their safety and 
if continuing in the study is appropriate. If it is deemed safe by study staff 
with respective input from NCCIH, FDA, Advarra IRB and/or IMC when 
necessary and participant (and parents of minors) desire to continue, 
remaining study visits will be completed.  
• Changes to psychiatric medications during the study are strongly discouraged, 
and we will ask participants to promptly notify us of any changes. If such 
changes occur, the Principal Investigator and co-investigators Coles, Kartha or 
Cloyd will review the relevant information and potential interactions. If it is 
determined that the new medication(s) raise potential safety concerns while 
being taken with NAC, the participant will be advised to stop taking study 
drug and still complete study visits as planned. Otherwise, the participant will 
continue. These changes will be documented and incorporated into sensitivity 
analyses as described in section 9.6. 
For all above withdrawal circumstances, participant contribution to subsequent data 


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collection will depend on safety considerations, participant interest and the adherence 
of each participant (Section 5.3).  
9. STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS  
9.1 
General Design Issues  
The goals of this study are to test whether significant change can be found in 
candidate biological signatures after 4 weeks of oral NAC. Three groups are used to 
compare pre-post treatment changes in those who received NAC 5400mg/day, 
3600mg/day, or PBO. 
Primary Hypothesis: 
1) NAC high dose and/or NAC low dose (but not PBO) will increase cortical 
GSH by at least 5% 
Secondary Hypotheses: 
1) NAC high dose and/or NAC low dose (but not PBO) will decrease cortical 
GLU by at least 5% 
2) NAC high dose and/or NAC low dose (but not PBO) will increase blood 
GSH/GSSG by at least 50% 
3) NAC concentrations (using data from both dose groups) will be correlated 
with clinical and neuroimaging outcomes. 
4) NAC high dose and/or NAC low dose (but not PBO) will increase resting-
state functional connectivity between amygdala and insula 
5) NAC high dose and/or NAC low dose (but not PBO) will increase ACC 
GABA. 
6) NAC high dose and/or NAC low dose (but not PBO) will increase antioxidant 
protein levels (catalase and heme oxygenase-1 [HO-1]). 
7) Higher-dose NAC will show larger changes in all of the biological signatures 
listed above compared to lower-dose NAC 
8) While both NAC doses will be acceptable to most patients, lower-dose NAC 
will be better tolerated than higher-dose NAC. 
Primary outcome measures:  
1) GSH concentration in ACC  
Secondary outcome measures: 
1) Blood GSH/GSSG (the reduced-to-oxidized GSH ratio in blood) 
2) Glu concentrations in ACC  
3) Tolerability of NAC as measured using a side effects checklist 
4) Pharmacokinetic analysis of NAC and its metabolites, CYS and GSH 
5) Antioxidant protein levels (catalase and heme oxygenase-1 [HO-1]) for which 


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previous studies have shown increases following NAC treatment. 
6) GABA concentrations in the ACC. Our pilot study found a significant 
increase in GABA levels after 28 days of oral NAC (6000 mg/day) (Coles et 
al. 2018). 
7) Functional connectivity between amygdala and insula. Our pilot study showed 
that after treatment with oral NAC (3600 mg/day), participants with NSSI 
showed an increase in amygdala functional connectivity in a cluster that 
included the bilateral insula. 
9.2 
Sample Size and Randomization 
The sample size (n=12 per group) was selected based on calculations on biosignature 
data from the oral NAC pilot study in adults with either Parkinson’s disease (PD; 
n=5) or healthy controls (HC; n=3). Using variability estimates from this study, we 
found that with groups of 11 (assuming one drop-out per group), we would have 80% 
power to show a significant (alpha=0.0167, Bonferroni corrected for 3 pairwise 
comparisons) effect of NAC high vs. NAC low vs. PBO on our primary outcome of 
brain GSH if the variability is similar to healthy controls seen in our pilot work 
(detectable mean group difference in pre-dose to post-dose percent change of 2.95%, 
expected mean group difference ~4.83%). The data collected in the R61 will serve to 
provide the variability information needed to design a future, confirmatory clinical 
trial. 
Treatment Assignment Procedures 
Randomization and Double-Blind: Participants who meet criteria for entry into the 
study (based on the online screen and the clinical interview) and who provide consent 
will be randomized to active NAC low dose versus NAC high dose versus PBO 
(1:1:1). We will implement an adaptive randomization procedure called 
minimization. The purpose of the procedure is to ensure that the 3 groups are similar 
with respect to key demographic and clinical variables such as age, NSSI severity and 
medication use. See Section 6.2.2 for a complete description of the randomization 
procedure. 
All participants, family members, and study staff (including the study statistician) 
will be blinded to treatment assignment. The research pharmacy, IDS, will be the only 
unblinded entity. See Section 6.2.2 for a complete description of the blinding (and 
unblinding) procedures. 
9.3  
Definition of Populations 
The Intent to Treat population will include all those who completed both baseline and 
4-week MRI scans and blood draws, even those who discontinued the study 
medication due to intolerability or other reasons. The Per-Protocol analysis 
population will consist of only those subjects who completed all procedures.  
9.4 
Interim Analyses and Stopping Rules 
The following safety findings would prompt temporary suspension of enrollment and 


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study intervention until a complete safety review is convened: 
• Suicide attempt in greater than 20% of participants that have received study 
intervention beginning when at least 10 participants have received study 
intervention. 
• Suicide attempt in greater than 30% of participants that have received study 
intervention when between 1 and 9 participants have received study 
intervention.  
• SAE in greater than 30% of participants to receive study intervention 
• SAE occurrence in first 3 participants to receive study intervention 
• AE indicating anaphylaxis to study intervention in at least 30% of participants 
to receive study intervention beginning when 10 participants have received 
intervention 
• Suicide completion in at least 2 participants to receive study intervention 
• Anything else deemed a safety risk to participants by the investigator or the 
IMC 
“Study intervention” refers to any or all 3 of the treatment groups. The following 
safety findings would prompt an ad hoc safety review without suspension of 
enrollment and study intervention: 
• NSSI frequency in past month increase of 100% in any single participant as 
determined by SITBI (question 148), comparing Day 1 and Day 28 – 32 
assessments.  
• Average NSSI frequency in past month increase of 50% during study 
enrollment as determined by SITBI (question 148, NSSI section, “How many 
times in the past month?”) comparing Day 1 to Day 28 - 32 measurement 
beginning when 5 participants have received study intervention. 
• Suicide completion in 1 participant to receive study intervention 
A safety review will be carried about by the Independent Monitoring Committee and 
its occurrence would be reported to Advarra IRB and NCCIH. Safety findings such as 
those listed above will be presented to Independent Monitoring Committee to review 
the events by blinded group to determine whether there are statistical as well as 
clinical concerns. The objective of the safety review is to determine whether the study 
or intervention (NAC) for an individual or for the study cohort should continue per 
protocol, proceed with enhanced monitoring, be further investigated, be discontinued, 
or be modified and then proceed. Suspension of enrollment is a potential outcome of 
a safety review. 
Outside of safety reviews, no interim analyses are planned for this study. 


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9.5 
Outcomes  
9.5.1 Primary Outcome   
1) GSH concentration in ACC voxel. Resolution of reduced versus oxidized 
GSH using spectroscopy is not possible; GSH concentrations as measured by 
MRS represent primarily reduced, intracellular GSH. Collected during 
neuroimaging procedures at Visit 2 and Visit 4. 
9.5.2 Secondary Outcomes   
1) Blood GSH/GSSG, the reduced-to-oxidized GSH ratio in blood. Performed on 
blood collected at Visit 2 and Visit 4. 
2) Glu concentrations in ACC voxel. Glu can be reliably separated from Gln at 
7T. Glu concentrations as measured using a side effects checklist. Collected 
during neuroimaging procedures at Visit 2 and Visit 4. 
3) Tolerability of NAC as measured using a side effects checklist. Collected at 
Visits 2, 3, 4 and through on-line measures between visits.  
4) Pharmacokinetic analysis of NAC and its metabolites, CYS and GSH. 
Performed on blood collected at Visit 4. 
5) Antioxidant protein levels (catalase and heme oxygenase-1 [HO-1]) collected 
at visits 2 and 4 
6) GABA concentrations in the ACC collected at visits 2 and 4 
7) Functional connectivity between amygdala and insula, data collected at Visit 2 
and 4  
9.6 
Data Analyses  
To address the study objectives, we will quantify the within-person percent change in 
proposed primary biological signature: brain GSH. We will fit a general linear model 
with brain GSH as dependent variable with group (NAC high vs NAC low vs PBO) 
as the predictor variable of interest. Since we apply a minimization procedure to 
ensure that groups are similar on key demographic and baseline clinical variables 
(age, baseline NSSI severity, presence of concurrent psychotropic medication), as is 
typically done in a large clinical trial we will not include covariates. Should the 
primary outcome values be highly skewed, we will use non-parametric tests instead to 
compare groups.  We will use the standardized Wilcoxon test statistic with the 
Dwass, Steel, Critchlow-Fligner (DSCF) multiple comparison analysis. This analysis 
takes each pair of groups, one pair at a time (high NAC vs. low NAC; high NAC vs. 
placebo; low NAC vs. placebo), computes a Wilcoxon test statistic to compare the 
two groups in that pair, and obtains a pvalue that is analogous to Tukey's control of 
family-wise Type I error (the test statistic is scaled to Tukey's studentized range 
distribution) (Hollander and Wolfe, 1999). This analysis to compare the 3 treatment 
groups on the primary outcome will adjust type I error using Tukey’s procedure for 
the 3 pairwise comparisons among the 3 groups. Tukey’s procedure is less 
conservative than the Bonferonni adjustment used in the sample size/power 


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calculation, hence we expect slightly higher power than planned. We will quantify the 
effect size of each group’s change to determine next steps with the research. 
To assess the robustness of our conclusions about the primary outcome to participants 
whose medical profile changes during the course of active treatment in our study, we 
will conduct sensitivity analyses. For example, if participant(s) need to have a change 
in their non-study medications during our study, they will remain in the study but the 
changes in medications will be noted in the study database. We will repeat our 
primary analysis excluding such people to see if our conclusions remain the same. We 
note, however, that this analysis is not protected from bias by the randomization. 
To address the secondary study objectives of exploring additional potential 
biosignatures, we will fit similar general linear models with each of the additional 
outcomes (brain Glu, blood GSH/GSSG, antioxidant protein levels, GABA 
concentrations, amygdala-insula functional connectivity) as dependent variables, with 
group (NAC high vs NAC low vs PBO) as the predictor variable of interest, again 
without including covariates to preserve power. These secondary analyses will use 
Holm’s step-down Bonferroni type I error correction to adjust for both multiple 
comparisons among groups and multiple testing across the several secondary 
outcomes. 
Data analysis: To address the secondary outcome of NAC PK, NAC and GSH 
concentration-time data will initially be analyzed by non-compartmental methods. 
WinNonLin Phoenix (Pharsight®) will be used to calculate the partial NAC area 
under the curve (AUC_0-2h) using the linear trapezoidal rule and maximum 
concentration (Cmax) . The AUC_0-2h and Cmax  for GSH will also be calculated. 
Descriptive statistics of the PK parameters will be determined. Drug concentrations 
and other PK variables will be correlated with degree of change in biological 
signatures. 
To address the secondary objective of describing the tolerability of oral NAC at the 
proposed study doses, we will quantify rates of side effects and other adverse events 
and compare rates between groups using Poisson, survival, or other rate-based models 
as appropriate for each event type. 
 
 
10. DATA COLLECTION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE 
10.1 Data Collection Forms  
Information will be collected from participants by Principal Investigator, Kathryn 
Cullen, MD, Co-Investigator Bonnie Klimes-Dougan, PhD, Research Coordinator, 
Siddhee Sahasrabudhe, and University of Minnesota Psychology graduate students 
under the supervision of Drs. Cullen and Klimes-Dougan. All study staff collecting 
information will be blinded. Information will be recorded directly onto paper copies 
of measures or directly into REDCap as source data. Measures recorded on paper 
copies will be transferred to REDCap or secure Box, though source data and 


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confidential information will be kept in a locked cabinet in a locked room. 
10.2 Data Management  
Storage and Access:  Data will be collected using a combination of paper and 
electronic measures. Data will be stored and administered electronically in a REDCap 
database managed by the University of Minnesota Academic Health Centers 
Information Systems (AHC-IS) (https://redcap.ahc.umn.edu) and a HIPAA compliant 
secure UMN Box folder identifiable by subject ID. Demographic information 
containing PHI, such as age, date of appointments, race, age, etc., will be entered 
directly, and stored, via an electronic measure, Demographics Form, into REDCap. 
Neuroimaging data will be stored on secure servers of the Center for Magnetic 
Resonance Research (CMRR) and will not contain any PHI, identifiable only by 
subject ID (participant specific) and procedure number (scan specific). 
Access to the REDCap project and the UMN Box folder will be granted by Research 
Coordinator (Siddhee Sahasrabudhe) and PI (Kathryn Cullen) as “owners” to study 
staff access as “editors”. REDCap and secure Box are accessible by UMN staff, 
faculty and students via UMN username and password managed by AHC-IS. The 
built-in audit trail in REDCap allows administrators to be able to determine all the 
activity and all the data viewed or modified by any given user in REDCap. 
The following measures will be collected and stored for future analysis: Demographic 
information including sex, age, race, ethnicity, diagnosis and four factor social status 
via the Demographic Form on REDCap, WASI-II, Edinburgh, PHQ-9, DTS, CTQ, 
BSS, side effects checklist, SITBI, ABUSI, BDI-II, DSHQ-M, ISAS-Lifetime, Anti-
Depressant Medication form, Ongoing Medication Use and Changes: Initial Visit, 
Ongoing Medication Use and Changes: Subsequent Visits, and ISAS-SLV. 
Release/Sharing: For data releases, request for sharing will be made to the PI, 
Kathryn Cullen and/or co-investigator, Bonnie Klimes-Dougan and granted on an 
individual basis. Participants that complete MRI scans will be offered a copy of a 
portion of their scan on disc. A written report detailing information gathered at the 
clinical assessment (MINI-KID or MINI), including psychiatric diagnosis, will be 
shared with participants provider(s) of choice upon receiving signed release of 
records from the participant. Additional specific measures gathered will be shared 
with participants providers upon signed request. General findings after data analysis 
will be shared with all participants in the form of a mailed letter. 
Specimen blood samples will be processed for analysis and then stored at the Center 
for Orphan Drug Research (CODR). These samples will be stored for at least 5 years 
to allow for follow-up tests that may be required, such as if new tests become 
available, or if manuscript reviewers request additional analyses. 
10.3 Quality Assurance  
10.3.1 Training 
Investigator and study staff will operate under the standard operating procedures 
(SOPs) of the University of Minnesota human research protection program found in 


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the toolkit library at https://research.umn.edu/units/irb/toolkit-library/standard-
operating-procedures. All study staff on this study will be delegated particular tasks 
as indicated by the Delegation of Authority Log kept on site. Study staff will be 
trained on each updated protocol and recorded on a protocol training log. 
All study staff will receive HIPAA training via University of Minnesota and Good 
Clinical Practice training via the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI), 
as required by the UMN Department of Psychiatry. Study staff consenting candidates 
will each perform a training program documented and signed-off on-site before they 
perform said activities. 
Training oversight 
1) Delegation of Authority log will show which personnel are delegated to which 
study procedures. 
2) Protocol training log will show all personnel up-to-date on current protocol 
versions. 
3) Psychological assessment training will be conducted by Bonnie Klimes-
Dougan and reflected in the DoA and Psychological Assessment Training log. 
4) IV catheter placement and phlebotomy will be conducted by trained 
Fairview/M Health staff 
10.3.2 Quality Control Committee  
Quality Assurance (QA) Reviewer will review monthly report of adherence to the 
treatment protocol and adherence of participants. QA Reviewer will be lab associate 
not working directly on this project.  
10.3.3 Metrics 
Quality assurance of metrics will be as follows: 
Spectroscopy measures: To ensure identical voxel positioning in the pre- and post-
NAC scans, we will utilize the AutoAlign feature on Siemens by saving subject 
specific protocols at the baseline. Acquisition methods and evaluation of the CSF 
contribution to the ACC voxel will be as described in our previous work (Terpstra et 
al 2016, van de Bank 2015). Methods to assess the reliability of metabolite 
concentrations based on Cramér-Rao lower bounds will be identical to those 
described in our previous work (Terpstra et al, 2016). 
10.3.4 Protocol Deviations 
Protocol deviations will be recorded by study staff in a protocol deviation log, with 
attached memo if further explanation is needed. Protocol deviation logs will be 
reviewed every 6 months by a study monitor from the Independent Monitoring 
Committee. This monitor will also review study documentation to assure the protocol 
deviation log is up-to-date upon review.  
Any unapproved protocol deviations (an accidental or unintentional change to the 
IRB-approved protocol) that, in the investigator’s judgment, potentially caused harm 




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will have access to and review all necessary documents at a set appointment time. 
Monitoring reports will indicate enrollment numbers, select changes since the last 
monitoring visit and any unresolved queries. The research staff will be expected to 
resolve all queries, and notify monitor of these resolved queries, within 10 days of 
receiving the monitoring report. 
11. PARTICIPANT RIGHTS AND CONFIDENTIALITY  
11.1 Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review  
This protocol and all consent documents associated with this study protocol (parent 
consent, adult consent, assent form) and any subsequent modifications will be 
reviewed and approved by NCCIH, Advarra IRB and the FDA for oversight of the 
study. The consent forms will be reviewed and approved separate from this protocol 
document. 
11.2 Informed Consent Forms 
The consent process will take place at Visit 1, before the clinical assessment. 
Participants will receive copies of the consent / assent (if applicable), email 
authorization and HIPAA forms via email or USPS mail at least 24 hours before this 
appointment. The initial consent process will take place with research staff in a 
previously reserved room within the Ambulatory Research Center (ARC) at the 
University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry (F212) Fairview Riverside West 
Building or at the Research in Adolescent Depression Lab at the University of 
Minnesota Medical School in-person or through video conferencing. During the 
consent process study staff will review the consent forms highlighting the most 
salient points such as study title, purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, alternatives, 
confidentiality, research related injury, voluntariness, and any additional 
signing/initial blocks such as permission to re-contact in the future and share data 
outside of this research study. Talk-back method will be used during the consent visit 
to ensure potential participant and/or their parent/guardian (if applicable) are 
understanding these points. In addition, an approved version of the UCSD Brief 
Assessment of Capacity to Consent specific to this study will be used with all 
participants during the consent process. Potential participants that are not able to 
complete the UBACC or score less than 2 points on each question will not be 
consented and enrolled into the study. If a potential participant scores 0 or 1 on any 
question the information pertinent to that question will be reviewed and discussed 
with the participant. If the potential participant is then able to answer the question in 
full and research staff determines the potential participant fully understands the 
material, they will be scored the 2 points and then consented and enrolled (assuring 
all answers are scored 2 points). In addition to University and department mandatory 
consent training for appropriate research staff, all new staff will be trained in consent 
for this research study including observing the consent process, mock consent and 
observed for consent process. Throughout the course of the research study, 
participants will be gauged of their comprehension of scheduled procedures as well as 
comfort and willingness to complete these procedures by staff at each visit/procedure. 
Consent will be documented in ink or through electronic signatures by signature of 


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parent/guardian on Parental Consent Form (if applicable), under 18 participants on 
Assent Form (if applicable), 18 or over participants on Adult Consent Form (if 
applicable) and completed UBACC form (all participants). Research staff obtaining 
consent will sign (ink or through electronic signatures) each of these applicable forms 
and document the consent process using the ICF Documentation Form. 
This study will not enroll non-English speaking participants. 
Potential participants will be screened to determine if they meet age requirements 
(16-24). They will be asked to bring or produce identification in case of video 
conferencing and checked of their age at the consent process. Potential participants 
that fail to bring or produce identification with DOB will not be consented and 
enrolled. Potential participants age 16 or 17 will be consented as children and those 
age 18-21 will be consented as adults.  
For those age 16 or 17, parental permission will be obtained from at least one parent 
to consent children eligible for the study. Parental permission will be attempted to be 
obtained from both parents unless one parent is deceased, unknown, incompetent or 
not reasonably available due to travel or work. Permission will be obtained from 
someone other than a parent only when that person is a legal guardian of the potential 
participant. Assent will be obtained and documented from all participants that meet 
criteria and are willing to consent that are age 16 or 17. Documentation will be 
obtained by child signing Assent Form, along with research staff personnel obtaining 
consent. 
Research staff will use a study specific version of the UCSD Brief Assessment of 
Capacity to Consent (UBACC) for all potential participants (16-24) at the consent 
visit.  
Participants will be able to opt into receiving unencrypted email communication and  
from study staff for reminders about appointments or instructions. The participant 
will not be required to communicate via email, and they may change their mind about 
email communication at any point during the study by informing the study team of 
their decision. Participants will also have the choice to opt into using texting 
communication in this study. Texting would allow study staff to remind participants 
about their appointments, completing remote assessments, or to provide other study 
updates. To consent into using texting communications, participants must sign the 
Text Authorization Form. The paper copy will be scanned onto Box or an electronic 
signature will be recorded in case the visit is completed through video conferencing. 
 
11.3 Participant Confidentiality  
All information and data collected from and about participants during the research 
study will be de-identified and kept in the participant’s folder in a locked cabinet in a 
locked room accessible by only study staff. Identifiable forms such as screening 
forms containing DOB and consent forms will be kept in a confidential section of the 
participant’s folder. All research staff and volunteers are required to complete data 
safety and security and HIPAA training according to University of Minnesota policy. 
All data electronically stored and transferred will be a limited data set and any 


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participant PHI stored electronically will be kept secure in Box, accessible by only 
study staff, and, if transferred, will be encrypted using secure portal such as Box. 
Confidentiality will be broken in the event of harm or threat to safety of subject is 
discovered during the research study. Examples of this occurrence may include the 
following: informing the parent of minor of suicide attempt, suicidal ideation or 
incidence of self-injury believed by study staff to be safety concern; contacting Child 
Protective Services in incidents of abuse, neglect or threat; reporting occurrence of 
abuse or harm, including sexual assault, from peer, adult family member or adult non-
family member; walking subject to Emergency Department in event of suicidal intent 
and plan. See Supplement IV: Procedure for suicide and self-harm risk assessment in 
research participants. 
Participants may opt into sending study staff emails or texts by signing additional 
authorization forms. In some cases, clinically significant information may be shared 
with the study team through these messages. In these cases, a member of the study 
team may save the communication to provide important context for the individual’s 
study case. For emails, the messages will be saved as a PDF on an AHC-IS protected 
computer. For texts, screenshots of the conversations will be saved and sent to the 
study-specific email address, and then the images will be saved as PDFs on an AHC-
IS supported computer. If these communications need to be shared outside of the 
study team for any reason, staff will redact any identifying information. Study staff 
will then redact the PDFs by putting black bars over any identifying information 
(name, email address, phone number, etc.). Dates and times of messages will be 
maintained to provide context for the conversation. A secondary staff member will 
review the PDFs to ensure that all identifying information has been removed prior to 
sending the messages to anyone outside of the study team. 
11.4 Study Discontinuation  
This study may be discontinued at any time by Advarra IRB, University of Minnesota 
IRB/HRPP, NCCIH or FDA as part of their oversight responsibilities, to ensure that 
research participants are protected and safe from harm.  
12. COMMITTEES 
The Principal Investigator has appointed an Independent Monitoring Committee for 
this research study for safety monitoring. There are no other committees affiliated 
with this research study. 
13. PUBLICATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS  
Publications and presentations of the findings that result from this study will 
acknowledge the funding support of the NCCIH 
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15. SUPPLEMENTS/APPENDICES 
 
Supplement I:  
A) Original PK sample collection scheme: Blood draw timing and blood processing 
 
To fully characterize the PK profile, we will adopt sparse sampling. At the final visit (Day 28 
- 32) we will collect samples before and after their final dose of the study drug, pre-dose and 
post-dose respectively. In addition, we will collect samples prior to and after their scanning 
session (i.e. ~60 minutes and ~2-3 hours after dosing, respectively). Additional samples will 
be collected up to ten (10) times bracketing 15 minutes and 6 hours post-dose. Participants 
will be separated into two groups and collection times will be staggered between the two 
groups. The times will be chosen based on prior NAC pharmacokinetics research showing 
that after oral dosing, NAC plasma concentrations peak levels at about 90 minutes, with a 
half-life of ~6 hours (Holdiness 1991). Following our standard lab procedure, we will collect 
from ~1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of blood in tubes containing K3EDTA, avoiding hemolysis 
during collection. The Day 1 collection will be ~1 tablespoon. The first sample on Day 28 - 
32 will be ~1 tablespoon and each of the post-dose samples will be ~1 teaspoon spanning ~4-
5 hours. Tubes will be placed on ice until processing. Samples will be centrifuged at 4°C, to 
separate plasma and red blood cells placed on dry ice, and stored in a -86°C freezer. 
GSH/GSSG and total GSH will be measured in blood using high performance liquid 
chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS) as previously reported 
(Kartha et al. 2015; Holmay et al. 2013a). Total (reduced + oxidized) concentrations of NAC, 
and CYS will be measured in plasma using a validated HPLC-MS assay (Radtke et al. 2012).  
To save on cost, we will not measure NAC and CYS levels in the PBO groups. Plasma HO-1 
levels will be determined using HO-1 human ELISA kit (Enzo Life Sciences, Farmingdale, 
NY, USA) as we have done previously (Kartha et al. 2015). Catalase enzyme activity will be 
measured in red blood cell lysate using Catalase Assay kit (Cayman Chemical, Ann Arbor, 
MI) as per manufacturer’s instructions. 
 
B) Abbreviated PK sample collection scheme: Blood draw timing and blood processing 
 
The ~8h duration of visit 4 may introduce risk to participants due to extended time indoors 
win a public building during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore we will use an abbreviated 
protocol during the pandemic; the study PI will make the determination of practicing original 
PK sample collection scheme for visit 4 once it is safe to do so based on the guidance from 
the University. 
The abbreviated PK sample collection scheme is as follows: 
At the final visit (Day 28 - 32) we will collect samples before their final dose of the study 
drug which will be taken at the CMRR. In addition, we will collect samples prior to and after 


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their scanning session (i.e. ~15 minutes after the first blood draw and ~1.5 hours after dosing, 
respectively). Following our standard lab procedure, we will collect from ~1 teaspoon to 1 
tablespoon of blood in tubes containing K3EDTA, avoiding hemolysis during collection. The 
Day 1 collection will be ~1 tablespoon. The first sample on Day 28 – 32 will be ~1 
tablespoon and each of the post-dose samples will be ~1 teaspoon. Tubes will be placed on 
ice until processing. Samples will be centrifuged at 4°C, to separate plasma and red blood 
cells placed on dry ice and stored in a -86°C freezer. GSH/GSSG and total GSH will be 
measured in blood using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a mass 
spectrometer (MS) as previously reported (Kartha et al. 2015; Holmay et al. 2013a). Total 
(reduced + oxidized) concentrations of NAC, and CYS will be measured in plasma using a 
validated HPLC-MS assay (Radtke et al. 2012). To save on cost, we will not measure NAC 
and CYS levels in the PBO groups. Plasma HO-1 levels will be determined using HO-1 
human ELISA kit (Enzo Life Sciences, Farmingdale, NY, USA) as we have done previously 
(Kartha et al. 2015). Catalase enzyme activity will be measured in red blood cell lysate using 
Catalase Assay kit (Cayman Chemical, Ann Arbor, MI) as per manufacturer’s instructions. 
 
 
Supplement II: Neuroimaging Procedures 
 
All brain imaging will be completed at the CMRR on a 7T whole body Siemens 
MAGNETOM scanner (Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany) using a standard 
Nova coil. We will use dielectric padding during the MRS acquisition but remove it for the 
fMRI acquisition. High-resolution T1-weighted structural data acquisition: A T1-weighted 
MPRAGE image will be acquired to position the MRS voxel and to facilitate registration of 
the fMRI data for group analyses. T1 parameters will include: TR = 3000 ms, TE = 3.27 ms, 
TI = 1500 ms, flip angle 5°, slice thickness=1 mm, number of slices= 176, field of view = 
256 x 256 mm2, and matrix size =256 x 256, 4 minutes. A proton density image will be 
acquired and used to reduce the image inhomogeneity of the T1 weighted image to improve 
image processing. PD parameters will include: TR = 1410 ms, TE = 3.27 ms, flip angle 5°, 
slice thickness=1 mm, number of slices= 176, field of view = 256 x 256 mm2, and matrix 
size =256 x 256, 2 minutes. FreeSurfer (Fischl 2012) will be used to conduct initial 
processing of the ratio image from the T1 and PD weighted scans and to parcellate the brain 
into standard regions of interest which will be used for the fMRI analyses. Spectroscopy 
acquisition and analysis (to obtain primary outcomes GSH and Glu concentrations): Proton 
spectra will be acquired from the ACC (2.0 x 2.0 x 2.0 cm3). Reproducible voxel placement 
may be accomplished with anautomated VOI placement tool, when the tool is developed 
(Park et al 2018 MRM). Acquisition methods and evaluation of the CSF contribution to the 
ACC voxel will be as described before (Terpstra et al. 2016; van de Bank et al. 2015). 
Specifically, we will utilize an optimized semi-LASER sequence (Öz and Tkáč 2011) with 
TE=26ms, TR=5s, 128 transients per spectrum. First- and second-order B0 shims will be 
adjusted in the ACC voxel using FASTMAP (a fast, automatic shimming technique by 
mapping along projections) with an echo planar imaging readout (Rolf Gruetter and Tkáč 
2000). Next, B1 levels for localization pulses and water suppression in semi-LASER will be 
adjusted. In addition, we will utilize real time voxel tracking, shim and frequency updates 
(see section C.1.c). Methods to quantify the neurochemical profiles using LCModel 
(Provencher 2001), and to assess the reliability of metabolite concentrations based on 


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Cramér-Rao lower bounds, will be identical to those described before (Terpstra et al. 2016). 
Functional imaging acquisition and analysis (to obtain secondary outcome amygdala-insula 
RSFC): Functional data will be acquired using the Human Connectome Project multiband 
echo planar imaging sequence for 7T (Van Essen et al. 2012; T Vu et al. 2017). Whole brain 
T2*-weighted functional volumes (85 contiguous slices; TR=1000 ms; TE=22.2ms; flip 
angle=45o, matrix=208x208mm; voxel size=1.6mm isotropic; multiband factor=5, 
GRAPPA=2, echo spacing = 0.64ms) will be obtained during rest. Patient will be instructed 
to keep eyes open while viewing a fixation cross (2 runs at 6 min each). The duration and the 
choice of fixation cross as the resting condition are selected to optimize reliability (Birn et al. 
2013; Patriat et al. 2013). Whole-brain functional connectivity maps of the amygdala will be 
obtained for each person at each time point using methods described previously (Cullen et al. 
2014; Westlund Schreiner et al. 2017).  We will extract the mean z-score from anatomically-
defined insula regions of interest, to represent amygdala-insula connectivity at each time 
point. These values will be used in repeated-measures ANOVAs to evaluate change in 
amygdala-insula connectivity over time. 
 
Supplement III: Identification of Potential Participants 
 
1) For those screened out or enrolled in previous research study, research staff will identify 
those that may be eligible for this study and contact them. For those enrolled in previous 
study, we will only contact those that have indicated in previous consent forms an interest 
to be contacted about future studies. 
 
2) For the University of Minnesota Psychiatry outpatient clinic research participant registry, 
the outpatient Psychiatry Clinic in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of 
Minnesota provides new patients the opportunity to indicate whether they are interested 
in being contacted to hear about research studies or whether they prefer to not be 
contacted. Access to this contact information is managed by the Department of 
Psychiatry Clinical Research Recruitment Specialist. The Clinical Research Recruitment 
Specialist describes research opportunities to patients and provides the contact 
information of interested patients to departmental researchers conducting studies for 
which they might be eligible. We are requesting permission to receive this contact 
information to recruit participants for this study. We will only contact patients who have 
indicated an interest in hearing about research.  
 
3) For Fairview patients that have elected to participate in University of Minnesota research, 
potential participants will be identified by Fairview staff from this repository, based on 
protocol eligibility criteria. Once identified, Fairview will mail the IRB-approved study 
recruitment letter to its patients on behalf of the research staff. 
 
4) For physical flyers in the community, potential participants will self-identify based on 
limited information present. They will contact research staff via phone and/or email. 
 
5) For internet and social media advertisements, potential participants will self-identify 
based on limited information present. They will contact research staff via phone and/or 
email or REDCap form.  


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6) For the patients of clinical groups affiliated with the University of Minnesota that are 
involved in the treatment of the target population potential participants will be identified 
by the clinician based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. The clinician will communicate 
information about the study to the patient with the opportunity to acquire more 
information from the research team. The clinician will provide contact information for 
the research team to the potential participant or will ask permission to provide the contact 
information of the potential participant to the research team if interested in participating.  
 
7) Social media presence will direct traffic to IRB-approved website with contact 
information for the research team listed.  
 
8) At community presentations potential participants will not be identified by research staff. 
Potential participants or parents of potential participants will have the opportunity to self-
identify and request more information about research participation. 
 
Supplement IV: Procedure for suicide and self-harm risk assessment 
 
RAD Lab | University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 
 
Investigators: 
Kathryn Cullen, M.D. 
Bonnie Klimes-Dougan, Ph.D., L.P. 
Kristina Reigstad, Psy.D., L.P. 
 
Procedure for suicide and self-harm risk assessment 
 
During the clinical assessment portions of this research study, research participants will be 
assessed for suicide risk and self-harm behavior with the assistance of a variety of research 
instruments (BDI-II, BSS, ISAS, CSSRS, KSADS, MINI, and SITBI), dependent on study 
specific protocol.  
 
The following procedure outlines the assessment and management of suicide and self-harm 
behavior risk.  
 
Suicidality: Interview and clinical assessments will include assessing the following suicide 
risk factors: ideation (duration, severity, and frequency), intent, plan, attempts, lethality, 
capability, preparatory acts, family/social support, current substance use and other factors 
impacting risk.  
 
The presence of any above risk factors will then entail assessing the following: who else is 
aware of these risk factors (e.g., parents, mental health providers), what actions of prevention 
have been implemented and current subjective feelings of safety from the participant. From 
this information research staff will determine if any of the following action is needed: 
report/share information to/with others (e.g., participant’s research team, family/parents of 
participant, participants medical or mental health team, child protective services/state 


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agencies), provide clinical referral to establish on-going care, or intervene in the case of an 
emergency.  
 
Answers will be recorded and reviewed by RAD Lab investigators (Drs. Cullen, Klimes-
Dougan or Reigstad) or research staff trained and supervised by RAD Lab investigators. 
Each clinical assessment will entail a RAD Lab investigator being on-call if not present at 
interview. As a result, a RAD Lab investigator (licensed psychologist or psychiatrist) will be 
consulted on the clinical case before safety action is taken. If a RAD Lab investigator is not 
available and safety concern exists, research staff will use their clinical judgment and take 
the action that best supports the health and safety of the research participant in that moment 
with the legal rights of this participant in the state of Minnesota in mind, while continuing to 
reach out to RAD lab investigator(s) for consultation until contact is made.  
 
In the event of imminent risk, research staff will engage participants (and parents of minors) 
who indicate suicide risk in a conversation about suicidality and safety planning. This will 
entail addressing awareness of warning signs, eliminating access to lethal means, immediate 
access to emergency services (Emergency Department assessment, suicide hotline, txt4life), 
parameters of engaging emergency services, and establishing on-going clinical care. As 
indicated we will also involve the participant’s treatment team. Research staff will strive to 
achieve an agreement with the participant and their parent(s) (for minors) on a safety plan 
that feels comfortable to all parties. Research staff will provide referral sources for clinical 
care, emergency contact information and encouragement for agreed upon safety plan.  
 
Participants with severe suicidal ideation with intent, or those who cannot or will not agree to 
a safety plan will be referred for assessment in the Emergency Department (ED), for 
consideration of admission to the hospital. If this decision takes place during a visit at the 
Ambulatory Research Center (ARC) in the West Building of the Fairview Riverside Hospital 
or the Research in Adolescent Depression Lab at the University of Minnesota Medical 
School, the participant will be escorted or directed to the ED of the Fairview hospital, which 
is in close proximity of either locations. If the safety concern emerges during a visit at the 
Center for Magnetic Resonance Research or Center for Neurobehavioral Development we 
will either direct the parents to transport the patient to the ED and if possible call the ED in 
advance to inform them of the referral and transport to the ED, or will call 911. If the safety 
concern emerges following an at-home on-line visit or remote video conference visit, we will 
contact the participant and/or parent, engage in the safety conversation as discussed above, 
and as indicated, either direct parents to transport the participant to the ED or to call 911. 
 
Self-harm behavior: Interview and clinical assessments will include assessing the following 
self-harm behaviors: type, frequency, severity, thoughts, family/social support and other 
factors impacting behavior.  
 
In the event of significantly increased frequency or severity of self-harm behaviors and/or 
imminent concern of risk, research staff will engage participants (and parents of minors) in a 
safety conversation to discuss how to increase safety in the home, whether hospitalization is 
needed, and whether continuing in the study is appropriate. Research staff will also involve 
the participant’s treatment team if it appears necessary for participant’s safety or on-going 


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care. Research staff will provide referral sources for clinical care, emergency contact 
information and encouragement for agreed upon safety plan. Participants with self-harm 
requiring medical attention or those who cannot or will not agree to a safety plan will be 
referred for assessment in the ED as described above. 
 

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ACTIVE 4.28 NAC Adult Consent
Please complete the survey below.
Thank you!
Consent Version: 04.28.21


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Sponsor / Study Title:
 
   The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) / "Identifying Biological Signatures of
N-Acetylcysteine for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents and Young Adults" 
  
   Principal Investigator:
(Study Doctor)
   Kathryn Cullen, MD
  
   Telephone:
 
   (612) 273-9800
(612) 899-8027 (24-Hours)
  
   Address:
   Ambulatory Research Center
2312 S. 6th St., Fl 2
Minneapolis, MN 55454 
  
    
 If your doctor is also the person responsible for this research study, please note that they are interested in both your
clinical care and the conduct of this research study. You have the right to discuss this study with another person who
is not part of the research team before deciding whether to participate in the research.
 This research is supported by The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). The grant
number is 1R61AT009995-01. The study intervention is provided by Swanson Health Products.
  
 Key Information About This Research Study
 The following is a short summary to help you decide whether or not to be a part of this research study. More detailed
information is listed later on in this form.
  
 What is research?
 There are important differences between research and treatment plans:
  The goal of research is to learn new things in order to help groups of people in the future. Investigators learn things
by following the same plan with a number of participants, so they do not usually make changes to the plan for
individual research participants. You, as an individual, may or may not be helped by volunteering for a research
study. The goal of clinical care is to help you get better or to improve your quality of life. Doctors can make changes
to your clinical care plan as needed.  Research and clinical care are often combined. One purpose of this informed
consent document is to provide you clear information about the specific research activities of this study.
  
 Why am I being asked to take part in this research study?
 We are asking you to take part in this research study because you are a young woman who currently engages in
self-harm with at least 1 episode in the past 2 months and have a history of at least 5 prior episodes of self-harm.


  
 What should I know about a research study?
  Someone will explain this research study to you. Whether or not you take part is up to you. You can choose not to
take part. You can agree to take part and later change your mind. Your decision will not be held against you. You can
ask all the questions you want before you decide.   
 Why is this research being done?
 This study will test an investigational use of an antioxidant supplement called N-acetylcysteine (NAC). An
"investigational use" is a use that is being tested and is not approved for sale for this use in the United States by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This study aims to measure the biological effects of two doses (NAC)
versus placebo (capsules that look like NAC but contain no active drug).
  
 How long will the research last?
 We expect that you will be in this research study for 4 weeks.
  
 What will I need to do to participate?
 You will be assigned to one of three study treatment groups and be asked to take the study treatment as directed.
During the in-person visits, you will complete questionnaires, have two MRIs (a way to take pictures of the brain), and
have blood draws. There will also be online questionnaires that will be completed at home
 More detailed information about the study procedures can be found under "What happens if I say yes, I want to be in
this research?"
  
 Is there any way that being in this study could be bad for me?
 Taking NAC may cause gastrointestinal adverse effects including nausea, stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and
constipation, as well as headache and chest tightness.
 More detailed information about the risks of this study can be found under "What are the risks of this study?  Is there
any way being in this study could be bad for me? (Detailed Risks)"
  
 Will being in this study help me in any way?
 We cannot promise any benefits to you or others from your taking part in this research. However, possible benefits
include reducing self-harm, but this cannot be guaranteed. You may get placebo, which is a capsule that looks like a
drug, but has no drug in it.
 Information from this study might help researchers to better understand self-harm or come up with new tests or
medications to help others in the future.
  
 What happens if I do not want to be in this research?
 You do not have to be in this study to get help for your self-harm. Treatment alternatives include a range of
psychotherapy approaches and medications prescribed by a psychiatrist or a primary doctor. The study doctor can
tell you more about these options if you'd like.
  
 Detailed Information About This Research Study
 The following is more detailed information about this study in addition to the information listed above.
  
 How many people will be studied?


 We expect about 46 people will be in this research study.
  
 What happens if I say "Yes, I want to be in this research"?
 If you decide you want to participate in this research, you will have the following visits and procedures.
  
 Visit 1 (Day 0) In-person or through video conferencing:
 This visit will last about 4 hours.
  You will sign this consent form (in person (ink/paper) or using electronic signature in case of video conferencing.
You will have a clinical assessment to determine eligibility for this study. We will ask you to fill out several
questionnaires on your own at the visit and will also ask you to answer questions from the study team. These
questions will be about your symptoms, thoughts, recent trauma, and personal information. It will also ask about the
money people in your house earn, as well as their education and work.   
 Visit 2 (Day 1) In-person:
 This visit will last about 3 hours.
  You will complete COVID-19 screen and follow COVID-19 related safety precautions including social distancing and
use of facial mask You will fill out a safety questionnaire prior to your MRI You will be asked to provide a urine sample
for a toxicology screen (for drugs and alcohol) and a pregnancy test.  The study doctor will tell you if the toxicology
screen is positive or if the test shows you are pregnant. Your urine sample will only be kept until we are able to
complete the tests described in this form, and then your sample will be destroyed.   You will have an MRI. An MRI
uses powerful magnets and radio waves to make pictures of body tissues and structure. You will be asked to remove
all metal objects and lay inside the MRI scanner. You will keep your eyes open and look at a plus sign on the screen,
called a fixation cross. You'll be asked to look at it and not think about anything in particular. During other parts of
the scan, you can rest, listen to music, or even sleep if you want. You will have a blood draw (about 1 tablespoonful).
You will be given a 4-week supply of the study treatment that you are assigned to. The study treatment you will get
will be chosen by chance, like flipping a coin. Neither you nor the study doctor will choose what study treatment you
are assigned. You have one in three chance of being placed one of the groups below. Neither you nor the study
doctor will know which study treatment you are getting. The three study treatment groups are:                   Group 1:
5400mg of NAC
                  Group 2: 3600mg of NAC with Placebo
                  Group 3: Placebo only
 You should take five capsules in the morning and four capsules in the evening.
  
 Phone Call:
 You will receive a phone call from the study staff 3 to 5 days after starting the study treatment. This is a check-in
call to answer any questions or concerns that may have come up. It will also help assess any side effects from the
study treatment.
  
 At-home Questionnaires (Day 7):
 The questionnaires will take about 15 minutes to complete.
  You will complete the questionnaires on-line at home. The questionnaires will ask about your feelings, and whether
you have thought about hurting yourself or have hurt yourself. You do not need to return to the study site for this
part of the research.   
 Visit 3 (Day 14) In-person or through video conferencing:
 This visit will last 30 minutes.
  You will fill out some questionnaires about how you feel. You will also answer questions about whether you have
thought about hurting yourself or have hurt yourself. You will continue to take five capsules in the morning and four
capsules in the evening for two more weeks.   


 At-home Questionnaires (Day 21):
 The questionnaires will take about 15 minutes to complete.
  You will complete the same set of on-line questionnaires at home, as you did on Day 7. The questionnaires will ask
about your feelings, and whether you have thought about hurting yourself or have hurt yourself. You do not need to
return to the study site for this part of the research.   
 Visit 4/Final Visit (Day 28):
 This visit will last about 3-8 hours.
  You will complete COVID-19 screen and follow COVID-19 related safety precautions including social distancing and
use of face mask You will fill out some questionnaires about your symptoms, feelings, and thoughts about hurting
yourself, including an MRI safety questionnaire. You will have another MRI. You will be asked to remove all metal
objects and lay inside the MRI scanner. You will keep your eyes open and look at a fixation cross. You will be asked to
provide a urine sample for a toxicology screen and a pregnancy test You will have a blood draw (about 1
tablespoonful) intravenously (IV) before your final dose of study treatment.  Since the study protocol includes a series
of blood draws, you will have the option of either placing an IV catheter or having a series of separate needlesticks
for your blood deaws. The IV catherer option has the advantage of limiting the number of times your skin has to be
broken and allows for blood samplesto be taken more easily throughout the rest of the visit. If you would prefer a
series of needle sticks, you can let the study staff know of that choice.     
  You will take your final dose of study treatment. You will have 2-5 more blood draws via IV (about 1 teaspoonful
each) over the course of the day, beginning after your final dose of study treatment.  Your blood samples will be
stored for up to 5 years so researchers can perform follow-up tests or additional analysis related to this study.    Final
Phone Call
 In addition, 24-72 hours after your final dose of the study treatment, you will receive a phone call from the study
staff to assess any side effects and to answer any remaining questions or concerns.
  
 What happens if I say "Yes", but I change my mind later?
 Your participation in this study is voluntary. You can decide not to be in the study, and you can leave the research
study at any time and no one will be upset by your decision.  
 If you decide to leave the research study, contact the investigator to let her know.
 Choosing not to be in this study or to stop being in this study will not result in any penalty to you or loss of benefit to
which you are entitled. This means that your choice not to be in this study will not negatively affect your right to any
present or future medical care, your academic standing as a student, or your present or future employment.
 If you stop being in the research, data that has already been collected about you will not be destroyed, but new
information will not be collected. You will be asked whether the investigator can collect information from your routine
medical care, such as your medical records. If you agree, this information will be handled the same as the
information obtained for the research study.
  
 What are the risks of being in this study?  Is there any way being in this study could be bad for me? (Detailed Risks)
  Oral NAC: Oral NAC may cause gastrointestinal adverse effects including rash, itchiness, nausea, stomach
discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation, as well as headache and chest tightness. It is possible that you could have
problems and side effects or NAC that nobody knows about yet. Current Medications: It is possible that taking,
receiving NAC may change how your regular medications, vaccines, or supplements work. It is very important that
you tell the study doctor about any medications, supplements, or vaccines before you take them during the study. IV
Placement and Blood Collection: Risks include dizziness and/or fainting, pain at the site, bleeding, bruising, blood
clot, and infection. Questionnaires: Some of the questions you will be asked may make you feel uncomfortable or
upset. These pertain to psychiatric and medical history, behavioral and psychiatric symptomatology, as well as a
puberty staging questionnaire. You do not have to answer any question that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Confidentiality: There is a risk of loss of confidentiality of your information. You will read more about the protection of
your information later in this form.  Please ask the study doctor or study staff if you would like to know more about
how your information will be protected while you are in this study.  You may be emailed an electronic copy of this
signed and dated consent form. There may be risks of loss of privacy and confidentiality if the electronic copy of this
consent form is viewed and/or stored on a personal electronic device (PED), especially if that PED is shared with
other users or is lost, hacked, or subject to a search warrant or subpoena. Also, the electronic copy of the consent
may not be able to be permanently removed from a PED.   MRI Scan: MRI machines use a strong magnet and
radiofrequency magnetic fields to take images of your body. The scanning process is similar to an x-ray or CT scan,
but MRI does not use ionizing radiation (high-energy radiation that can potentially cause damage to DNA) like x-rays


or CT scans. Standard clinical MRI uses a 1.5 Tesla (T) magnets, and at most research centers, the research MRI
systems for human use have field strengths of 3T and 4T. This study uses a 7T magnet. Imaging at these field
strengths is not considered a significant risk according to FDA guidelines. The risks associated with MRI scans are: 
Projectiles: Objects with magnetic properties can be pulled into the magnet and turn into projectiles. To minimize this
risk we ask that subjects remove all metallic items (watches, cell phones, hair pins, etc.) prior to entering the scanner
and by controlling access to the scanner. Claustrophobia: The scanner is a long narrow tube that may cause some
people to feel claustrophobic. Hearing Damage: The noise generated by the operation of the scanner during a study
is loud enough to cause hearing damage if you do not wear hearing protection. Hearing protection is required and is
provided by the investigator. Nerve Stimulation: Some people experience localized tingling, twitching, or muscle
contractions during MRI scans. This is expected, but if it is uncomfortable please notify the investigator. Disruption of
Devices: Some devices can be damaged by magnetic fields and should not be brought into the scanner room. This
includes some implanted devices such as pacemakers, cochlear implants, insulin pumps, nerve stimulators, etc. If
you have any implanted device notify the investigator. Heating of Devices: The radiofrequency waves used in MRI
can heat conductive materials such as metal implants (screws, plates, rods, wires, artificial joints, etc.), certain tattoo
inks, certain clothing fabrics, jewelry, medication patches, wigs, etc. You will be asked to remove these items if
possible. If they cannot be removed, you will be asked to provide more information to allow MRI staff to be able to
make determination on the safety of proceeding with the scan.    A thorough pre-scan questionnaire will allow us to
minimize the risk of device disruption and heating. You will be in constant contact with the investigator and should
notify the investigator immediately, via the squeeze ball, if you notice anything unusual, become claustrophobic,
think that your hearing protection is not adequate, or if you experience nerve stimulation that is uncomfortable.
 In addition, there is a risk of unknown effects related to participation in MRI research. Long-term effects of exposure
to high magnetic fields are unknown.  Most people experience no short-term ill effects from the strong magnetic
field, but some people report dizziness, mild nausea, headache, a metallic taste in their mouth, or sensations of
flashing lights. These symptoms, if present, subside shortly after leaving the magnet. If any sensations experienced
during participation cause discomfort or pain, notify the researcher right away and your participation will stop and
you will be taken out of the magnetic field.
  
 Will I receive any imaging results after an MRI?
 The images or pictures created during this study are for research purposes only and are not intended to provide
health care to you. However, if the results from the magnetic resonance imaging show something unusual in the
pictures, a Radiologist trained in reading the pictures will look at them. The pictures will not contain any personal
information except your age and pertinent medical history collected as part of the research. There will be no charge
to you for having the Radiologist look at your pictures. The investigator will contact you if the recommendation of the
Radiologist is to further investigate the unusual results of the pictures with your own physician. However, further
medical follow up is not a part of this study and the study does not have funds set aside for this purpose. Therefore,
if the results do show something unusual, any medical follow up cost will be your responsibility and/or the
responsibility of your health insurance carrier.
  
 Could I have an allergic reaction? 
 Sometimes people have allergic reactions to drugs. If you have a very bad allergic reaction, you could die.  Some
things that happen during an allergic reaction that could be a sign or symptom of a life-threatening allergic reaction
(anaphylaxis) are:
  A rash A fast pulse Sweating A feeling of dread Swelling around the eyes and mouth Swelling of the throat
Wheezing Having a hard time breathing A sudden drop in blood pressure (making you feel dizzy or lightheaded)
Inability to breathe without assistance  You should get medical help and contact the study doctor or study staff if you
have any of these or any other side effects during the study.
  
 What do I need to know about reproductive health and/or sexual activity if I am in this study?  
 If you are pregnant or nursing a child while taking NAC, there may be risks to you, the embryo, fetus or nursing
child. Nobody knows what all the risks are right now.
 The risks of exposure to high magnetic fields, like those in an MRI, are unknown for fetuses. Therefore, if you are a
female who is capable of becoming pregnant, and you have any reason to believe that you might be pregnant, you
should not participate in this study.
 Will I receive any new information during the study? 
 If the study doctor or study staff learns any new information that might change your mind about continuing in the
study, the study doctor or study staff will tell you about it. 


  
 Will I know about any new information about the effects of MRIs on human health?
 Personnel in the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), the site where you are participating in MRI
research, maintain a list of the names and contact information of all participants included in research at this facility.
This information is required and will be used by CMRR to notify participants of significant new information about the
effects of MR on human health that develop over the course of MRI research. Participant's identifying information is
stored securely and it is maintained in a confidential manner by persons with oversight of research conducted at the
CMRR.
  
 Will it cost me anything to participate in this research study?
 Taking part in this research study will not lead to any costs to you.  
 You and your insurance company will be charged for the health care services that you would ordinarily be
responsible to pay. In some cases, insurance will not pay for services ordinarily covered because these services are
performed in a research study. You should check with your insurance to see what services will be covered by your
insurance and what you will be responsible to pay.
  
 What happens to the information collected for the research?
 Efforts will be made to limit the use and disclosure of your personal information, including research study and
medical records, to people who have a need to review this information. We cannot promise complete confidentiality.
Organizations that may inspect and copy your information include the Independent Review Board (IRB), Advarra IRB,
the committee that provides ethical and regulatory oversight of research, NCCIH, and other representatives of this
institution, including those that have responsibilities for monitoring or ensuring compliance.
 If we learn about current or ongoing abuse or neglect, we may be required or permitted by law or policy to report
this information to authorities.  
  
 Data or Specimens Collected
 If you change your mind later, be aware that your samples may or may not be withdrawn from the research,
depending on the study site's policies. You can ask the study doctor or study staff about this.
 Your samples will not be labeled with your name or other directly identifying information. Your samples will have a
code instead. The list that matches the code with your name will be stored separately from your samples. If
identifiers are removed from your identifiable private information or identifiable samples that are collected during
this research, that information or those samples could be used for future research studies or distributed to another
investigator for future research studies without your additional informed consent.  
 The study site, monitors, auditors, Advarra IRB, the University of Minnesota Research Compliance Office and other
University compliance units, the US Office of Research Integrity (ORI), the US Office for the Protection of Human
Research Protections (OHRP), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may be granted direct access to your
medical records to conduct and oversee the research. By signing this document, you are authorizing this access. We
may publish the results of this research. However, we will keep your name and other identifying information
confidential.
 A description of this clinical trial will be available on http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov, as required by U.S. Law. This Web
site will not include information that can identify you. At most, the Web site will include a summary of the results.
You can search this Web site at any time.
  
 Certificate of Confidentiality 
 The study center has a Certificate of Confidentiality from the federal government.  This helps protect your privacy.
The Certificate means that the, study center does not have to give out identifying information about you even if
asked to do so by a court of law. The study center will use the Certificate to resist any demands for identifying
information. 
 The Certificate only applies to the study center. You can still give out information about yourself or about your
involvement in the study if you wish. As well, the study center can't use the Certificate to withhold your research
information if you give your written consent to give it to an insurer, employer, or other person. 


 There are some limits to the Certificate's protection. The study center will voluntarily provide the information to:
  a member of the federal government who needs it in order to audit or evaluate the research; individuals at the
study center, the funding agency, and other groups involved in the research, if they need the information to make
sure the research is being done correctly; the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if required by the FDA;
state and local authorities, about  abusive behavior (toward a child, a partner, or an elderly person) people who say
they are going to hurt themselves or someone else   Will I receive research test results?
 Most tests done on samples in research studies are only for research and have no clear meaning for health care.  If
the research with your identifiable information or samples gives results that do have meaning for your health, the
investigators will contact you to let you know what they have found. 
  
 Will anyone besides the study team be at my consent meeting?  
 You may be asked by the study team for your permission for an auditor to observe your consent meeting. Observing
the consent meeting is one way that the University of Minnesota makes sure that your rights as a research
participant are protected. The auditor is there to observe the consent meeting, which will be carried out by the
people on the study team. The auditor will not document any personal (such as name, date of birth) or confidential
information about you. The auditor will not observe your consent meeting without your permission ahead of time.  
  
 Whom to contact about this study
 During the study, if you experience any medical problems, suffer a research-related injury, or have questions,
concerns or complaints about the study, please contact the Investigator at the telephone number listed on the first
page of this consent document. If you seek emergency care, or hospitalization is required, alert the treating
physician that you are participating in a research study.
 An institutional review board (IRB) is an independent committee established to help protect the rights of research
subjects. If you have any questions about your rights as a research subject, and/or concerns or complaints regarding
this research study, contact:
  By mail:  Study Subject Adviser
 Advarra IRB
 6940 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 110
 Columbia, MD 21046
  or call toll-free: 877-922-4724 or by email: adviser@advarra.com  Please reference the following number when
contacting the Study Subject Adviser: Pro00036469.
 To share feedback privately with the University of Minnesota Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) about your
research experience, call the Research Participants' Advocate Line at 612-625-1650 (Toll Free: 1-888-224-8636) or go
to z.umn.edu/participants. You are encouraged to contact the HRPP if:
  Your questions, concerns, or complaints are not being answered by the research team. You cannot reach the
research team. You want to talk to someone besides the research team. You have questions about your rights as a
research participant. You want to get information or provide input about this research.   
 Will I have a chance to provide feedback after the study is over? 
 The HRPP may ask you to complete a survey that asks about your experience as a research participant. You do not
have to complete the survey if you do not want to. If you do choose to complete the survey, your responses will be
anonymous. 
 If you are not asked to complete a survey, but you would like to share feedback, please contact the study team or
the HRPP. See the contact information listed on page 1 of this form for study team contact information and "Whom
do I contact if I have questions, concerns or feedback about my experience?" of this form for HRPP contact
information.
  
 Can I be removed from the research?
 The person in charge of the research study can remove you from the research study without your approval. Possible


reasons for removal include if you become suicidal, if you engage in self-harm that requires urgent or emergency
care, if you have intolerable side effects from the study treatment, or if you do not follow the instructions from the
study team.
  
 What happens if I am injured while participating in this research?
 In the event that this research activity results in an injury, treatment will be available, including first aid, emergency
treatment and follow-up care as needed. Care for such injuries will be billed in the ordinary manner to you or your
insurance company. If you think that you have suffered a research related injury, let the study physicians know right
away. 
 You do not give up any of your legal rights by signing this form.
 Be aware that your health care payer/insurer might not cover the costs of study-related injuries or illnesses.
  
 Will I be compensated for my participation? 
 If you agree to take part in this research study, we will pay you as follows for your time and effort:
  Visit 1 (Day 0) (In-person or through video conferencing): $40 Visit 2 (Day 1) In-person: $50 At-home Questionnaires
(Day 7): $10 Visit 3 (Day 14) (In-person or through video conferencing) questionnaires: $10 At-home Questionnaires
(Day 21): $10 Visit 4/Final Visit (Day 28) In-person: $200  If you complete all study visits/questionnaires, this totals
$320 for the entire study.
 Payment will be made using a pre-paid debit card called Greenphire ClinCard. It works like a bank debit card. We will
give you a debit card and each time you receive a payment for participation in this study, the money will be added to
the card after each completed visit.
 You may use this card at any store that accepts MasterCard or you can use a bank machine to remove cash.
However, there may be fees drawn against the balance of the card for cash withdrawals (ATM use) and inactivity (no
use for 3 months). We will give you the "ClinCard Frequently Asked Questions" information sheet that answers
common questions about the debit card. You will also receive letters with additional information on how you can use
this card and who to call if you have any questions. Be sure to read these letters, including the cardholder
agreement, for details about fees.
 The debit card system is administered by an outside company. The company, Greenphire, will be given your name.
They will use this information only as part of the payment system. Your information will not be used for any other
purposes and will not be given or sold to any other company. Greenphire will not receive any information about your
health status or the study in which you are participating.
  
 Use of Identifiable Health Information
 We are committed to respecting your privacy and keeping your personal information confidential. When choosing to
take part in this study, you are giving us the permission to use your personal health information that includes health
information in your medical records and information that can identify you. For example, personal health information
may include your name, address, phone number or social security number. Those persons who get your health
information may not be required by Federal privacy laws (such as the Privacy Rule or what you may know as
"HIPAA") to protect it. Some of those persons may be able to share your information with others without your
separate permission. Please read the separate HIPAA Authorization form that we have provided and discussed.
  
 How will my information be used in publications and presentations?
 We may publish the results of this research in scientific, medical, academic or other journals or reports, or present
the results at conferences.  Information that makes it easy to identify you (such as your name and contact
information, SSN and medical records number) will not be part of any publication or presentation.  If you have an
extremely unique or rare condition that is not shared by many others, it is possible that some people may be able to
determine your identity even without these identifiers.
[Attachment: "2021.04.28 Cullen 26890 Adult Consent.pdf"]


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Permission for Optional Future Re-Contact:
The following research activities are future re-contact optional activities, meaning that you do not have to agree to
them in order to participate in the research study. Please indicate your willingness to participate in these optional
activities by placing your initials next to each activity.
1)
I will allow the members of the study team to contact me in the future to request information about my progress.
Yes, I agree.
No, I disagree.
2)
The investigator may contact me in the future to see whether I am interested in participating in an expanded portion
of this study.
Yes, I agree.
No, I disagree.
Signatures
Your signature documents your permission to take part in this research. You will be provided a copy of this signed
document.
3)
Signature of participant
__________________________________________
4)
Printed name of participant
__________________________________
5)
Date
__________________________________