Girone Nicolaja, Benatti Beatrice, Molteni Laura, Cassina Niccolò, Giacovelli Luca, Arici Chiara, Dell'Osso Bernardo
Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Psychiatry 2 Unit, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
"Aldo Ravelli" Center for Nanotechnology and Neurostimulation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Clin Neuropsychiatry. 2023 Jun;20(3):183-192. doi: 10.36131/cnfioritieditore20230303.
Depression represents one of the most severe psychiatric disorders, characterized by low mood episodes, as well as loss of interest. Major Depressive Episodes (MDE) treatment relies primarily on monoaminergic prescriptions. However, although the presence of many antidepressant medications, their efficacy is still partial. A promising intervention to improve antidepressant treatment may be the use of adjunctive nutraceuticals. Aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of a N-Acetyl-cysteine, S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine and Folic acid's combination for the treatment of depressive symptoms in a sample of MDE patients.
Fifty outpatients with a MDE diagnosis in the context of different psychiatric disorders such as Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety disorders, and Personality disorders were recruited. The sample was divided into different groups based on the nutraceutical administration: a) concurrently with an AD (starter group); b) add-on to an already prescribed treatment; c) single treatment.
A significant reduction of CGI-Severity and Improvement scores from baseline to the end of treatment was found. Moreover, the starter group showed a significantly greater CGI-Improvement score compared to the other groups. Ninety-four percent of patients did not show any side effects.
The present study showed promising results for the use of nutraceuticals in the add-on treatment of MDE. Those compounds may be considered a versatile, tolerable, and effective add-on treatment for the reduction of depressive symptoms impact and for improving the functioning of patients affected by MDE.
抑郁症是最严重的精神疾病之一，其特征为情绪低落发作以及兴趣丧失。重度抑郁发作（MDE）的治疗主要依赖单胺能药物处方。然而，尽管有多种抗抑郁药物，但它们的疗效仍然有限。一种有望改善抗抑郁治疗的干预措施可能是使用辅助营养保健品。本研究的目的是评估N-乙酰半胱氨酸、S-腺苷甲硫氨酸和叶酸联合使用对一组MDE患者抑郁症状的治疗效果。
招募了50名在不同精神疾病（如重度抑郁症、双相情感障碍、焦虑症和人格障碍）背景下被诊断为MDE的门诊患者。根据营养保健品的给药方式将样本分为不同组：a）与抗抑郁药同时使用（起始组）；b）添加到已开具的治疗方案中；c）单一治疗。
发现从基线到治疗结束，CGI严重程度和改善评分显著降低。此外，起始组的CGI改善评分显著高于其他组。94%的患者未出现任何副作用。
本研究表明营养保健品在MDE的附加治疗中取得了有前景的结果。这些化合物可被视为一种通用、耐受性良好且有效的附加治疗方法，用于减轻抑郁症状的影响并改善受MDE影响患者的功能。
