MedTrace Logo

Effects of NAC on Symptoms of CHR Patients

NCT05142735 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 90

Last updated 2026-03-27

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating psychotic disorder. Identifying persons with "clinical high-risk" (CHR) symptoms, which are like those of schizophrenia but less severe, and providing psychiatric care to these individuals has been shown to help prevent psychosis. Current medications used for CHR symptoms, however, are associated with substantial side effect burden. Therefore, practice guidelines do not recommend current medications as routine treatment for the CHR state, and there is a need to identify new treatments for this condition.

Research suggests that abnormal brain oxidative stress may contribute to schizophrenia, offering a potential novel treatment target in the CHR state. Oxidative stress is an excess of free radicals, which are generated from normal metabolism and environmental exposures, and can damage cells. Antioxidants in the body normally neutralize free radicals. Antioxidant deficiency could result in excess oxidative stress that damages brain cells, leading to schizophrenia. Recent studies suggest that N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor of the most abundant brain antioxidant, glutathione, may be a safe, well-tolerated treatment for schizophrenia. In light of this, NAC may also reduce symptoms and brain abnormalities in CHR patients.

Conditions

  • Prodromal Schizophrenia

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

N-Acetylcysteine

2000 mg (4 x 500-mg tablets) every morning

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo

4 placebo tablets every morning

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Michael Kiang, MD, PhD · Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
16 Years
Max Age
35 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-01-13
Primary Completion
2026-11-01
Completion
2026-12-31

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05142735 on ClinicalTrials.gov