Prefrontal Glutamatergic Modulation by NAC and MBCT for Depression in Youth

Conditions

• Mild Depression

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

15 Years - 24 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• N-acetylcysteine — DRUG
  N-acetylcysteine 2400 mg/d
• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy — BEHAVIORAL
  Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
• Placebo — DRUG
  Placebo capsules
• Sham mindfulness-based intervention — BEHAVIORAL
  Sham mindfulness-based intervention

Study Details

The primary goal is to investigate to what extent changes in glutamate and glutathione modulation and functional integration between brain networks associated with emotion and attention regulation are associated with treatment response in mildly depressed youth.

Key Dates

Start date

Feb 26, 2026

Status verified

Mar 2026

Primary completion

Mar 31, 2030

Completion

Dec 31, 2030

Study Design

Enrollment

160 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Arms

• Active Comparator: NAC plus MBCT
  N-acetylcysteine 2400 mg daily and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy over 8 weeks
• Placebo Comparator: Placebo plus MBCT
  Placebo capsules and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy over 8 weeks
• Sham Comparator: NAC plus sham MBCT
  N-acetylcysteine 2400 mg daily and sham mindfulness-based intervention over 8 weeks
• Other: Placebo plus sham MBCT
  Placebo capsules daily and sham mindfulness-based intervention over 8 weeks

Primary Outcome Measure

Glutamate levels in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) [ Time Frame: From baseline to week 8 ]

Central Contacts

• Fabiano Nery, MD, PhD
  513 558-5035
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in Cincinnati, OH

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