Schizophrenia, Related Troubles and Glutathione: Clinical Trial. Effects of Oral Administration of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) on the Brain Glutathione Level and on the Symptoms of Schizophrenia

The results of the study "schizophrenia, related disorders and glutathione" conducted at the Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience (LUNEP) DUPA of Lausanne, reinforce the hypothesis proposed that a deficit intracerebral glutathione is a vulnerability factor for Schizophrenia at least for a subgroup of patients. While pursuing the baseline study, it is appropriate now to try to restore a higher level of glutathione in patients to see if this increase is accompanied by an improvement in symptoms, particularly negative symptoms and disorders cognitive, particularly resistant to current therapy. N-acetyl-cystein (NAC) is a precursor of glutathione which is used clinically for various indications, well tolerated even at high doses. The investigators propose a double-blind cross-over with the aim to study if the N-acetyl-cystein (at a dose of oral 2g/day) leads on the one hand a rising glutathione brain (measured in resonance magnetic spectroscopic) and also improved patients' conditions (determined by clinical assessments, psychopathological, neuropsychological, biochemical and physiological), while recording any side effects. As a first step, this study should include at least thirty patients and last for two to three years. It is important to note that this is not a study of medication suggested by a pharmaceutical industry, but a medical search.