Anxiety

University of Minnesota publishes research in trichotillomania

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"N-acetylcysteine, an amino acid, seems to restore the extracellular glutamate concentration in the nucleus accumbens and, therefore, offers promise in the reduction of compulsive behavior. To determine the efficacy and tolerability of N-acetylcysteine in adults with trichotillomania. Twelve-week, double-blind, placebocontrolled trial. Ambulatory care center. Fifty individuals with trichotillomania (45 women and 5 men; mean [SD] age, 34.3 [12.1] years). N-acetylcysteine (dosing range, 12002400 mg/d) or placebo was administered for 12 weeks. Patients were assessed using the Massachusetts General Hospital Hair Pulling Scale, the Clinical Global Impression scale, the Psychiatric Institute Trichotillomania Scale, and measures of depression, anxiety, and psychosocial functioning. were examined using analysis of variance modeling analyses and linear regression in an intention-to-treat population. Patients assigned to receive N-acetylcysteine had significantly greater reductions in hair-pulling symptoms as measured using the Massachusetts General Hospital Hair Pulling Scale (P <.001) and the Psychiatric Institute Trichotillomania Scale (P=.001). Fifty-six percent of patients ''much or very much improved'' with N-acetylcysteine use compared with 16% taking placebo (P=.003). Significant improvement was initially noted after 9 weeks of treatment. This study, the first to our knowledge that examines the efficacy of a glutamatergic agent in the treatment of trichotillomania, found that N-acetylcysteine demonstrated statistically significant reductions in trichotillomania symptoms. No adverse events occurred in the N-acetylcysteine group, and N-acetylcysteine was well tolerated. Pharmacologic modulation of the glutamate system may prove to be useful in the control of a range of compulsive behaviors," wrote J.E. Grant and colleagues, University of Minnesota.

The researchers concluded: "Trial Registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00354770.."

Grant and colleagues published their study in Archives of General Psychiatry (N-Acetylcysteine, a Glutamate Modulator, in the Treatment of Trichotillomania A Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 2009;66(7):756-763).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting J.E. Grant, University of Minnesota, Dept. of Psychiatry, School Medical, 2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA.

The publisher of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry can be contacted at: American Medical Association, 515 N State St., Chicago, IL 60610-0946, USA.

Keywords: United States, Minneapolis, Acetylcysteine, Clinical Trial Research, Compulsive Behavior, Dermatology, Drugs, Hair Loss, Mental Health, Pharmaceuticals, Psychiatric, Psychiatry, Psychosocial, Therapy, Treatment, Trichotillomania, University of Minnesota.

This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.