Adding NAC to OCD medication doesn't seem to help kids and teens better control their obsessive thoughts compared to just taking the medication alone.

Scientific Claim

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) added to citalopram does not significantly improve resistance to obsessions in children and adolescents with OCD compared to placebo, with a mean change of 1.8 (2.3) in the NAC group versus 0.8 (2.1) in the placebo group (P=0.2).

Original Statement

“The mean change of score of resistance/control to obsessions in the NAC and placebo groups was 1.8(2.3) and 0.8(2.1), respectively (P = 0.2).”

From study:Some psychometric properties of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Version 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQLTM) in the general Serbian population

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

probability

Can suggest probability/likelihood

Assessment Explanation

The study design supports causal inference, but the small sample size and high dropout rate limit precision. The study states 'no statistically significant decrease' but the evidence strength warrants 'may not significantly improve' to reflect uncertainty.

More Accurate Statement

“N-acetylcysteine (NAC) added to citalopram may not significantly improve resistance to obsessions in children and adolescents with OCD compared to placebo, with a mean change of 1.8 (2.3) in the NAC group versus 0.8 (2.1) in the placebo group (P=0.2).”

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

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2017 Apr

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Some psychometric properties of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Version 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQLTM) in the general Serbian population

Score: 61

DOI: 10.1007/s11136-010-9833-z

Similar Assertions

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.

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When kids and teens with OCD take NAC along with their regular medication, their OCD symptoms get much better overall compared to those who just take the regular medication alone.

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Adding NAC to OCD medication doesn't seem to help kids and teens with OCD move around or do physical activities better than just taking the medication alone.

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Kids and teens with OCD who take NAC along with their medication can move around better than they could before starting treatment, but this improvement isn't better than what kids get from just taking the medication alone.

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Kids and teens with OCD who take NAC along with their medication feel better emotionally compared to those who just take the medication alone.

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