Adding NAC to a common OCD medication helps kids and teens better control their compulsive behaviors, like repetitive actions they can't stop doing, better than just taking the medication alone.
Scientific Claim
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) added to citalopram significantly improves resistance to compulsions in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), with a mean change of 2.3 (1.8) compared to 0.9 (2.3) in the placebo group (P<0.04), and a Cohen's d effect size of 0.42.
Original Statement
“The mean score of change for resistance/control to compulsion in the NAC and placebo groups was 2.3(1.8) and 0.9(2.3), respectively (t = 2.5, df = 32, P<0.04). Cohen's d effect size was 0.42.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
probability
Can suggest probability/likelihood
Assessment Explanation
While the study design (RCT) supports causal inference, the small sample size (n=34) and high dropout rate (5/34) limit precision. The study's conclusion uses 'suggests' and 'improves' but the evidence strength warrants 'may improve' or 'likely improves' to reflect uncertainty.
More Accurate Statement
“N-acetylcysteine (NAC) added to citalopram may improve resistance to compulsions in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), with a mean change of 2.3 (1.8) compared to 0.9 (2.3) in the placebo group (P<0.04), and a Cohen's d effect size of 0.42.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Some psychometric properties of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Version 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQLTM) in the general Serbian population