NCT01063348

N-Acetyl Cysteine in Pathologic Skin Picking

A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of N-Acetyl Cysteine in Pathologic Skin Picking

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 66 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Chicago · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 64 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of the proposed study is to evaluate the comparative efficacy of N-acetyl cysteine to placebo in pathologic skin picking. Thirty subjects with pathologic skin picking will receive 12 weeks of double-blind treatment with N-acetyl cysteine or matching placebo. The hypothesis to be tested is that N-acetyl cysteine will be more effective than placebo in patients with pathologic skin picking. The proposed study will provide needed data on the treatment of an often disabling disorder that currently lacks a clearly effective treatment.

Detailed description

Pathologic skin picking involves repetitive, ritualistic, or impulsive picking of otherwise normal skin leading to tissue damage, personal distress, and impaired functioning. Although skin picking has been described in the medical literature for over one-hundred years, it remains a poorly understood psychiatric issue and often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Picking behavior does not by itself suggest a psychiatric disorder. Pathology exists in the focus, duration and extent of the behavior, as well as the reasons for picking, associated emotions, and resulting problems. Patients with PSP report thoughts of picking or impulses to pick that are irresistible, intrusive and/or senseless. These thoughts, impulses, or behaviors also cause marked distress for patients and significantly interfere with other activities. Unlike normal picking behavior, the pathologic form of skin picking is recurrent and usually results in noticeable skin damage. Thirty subjects with pathologic skin picking will receive 12 weeks of double-blind treatment with N-acetyl cysteine or matching placebo. The hypothesis to be tested is that N-acetyl cysteine will be more effective than placebo in patients with pathologic skin picking. The proposed study will provide needed data on the treatment of an often disabling disorder that currently lacks a clearly effective treatment.

Conditions

• Pathologic Skin Picking
• Neurotic Excoriation
• Psychogenic Excoriation
• Dermatillomania

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	N-Acetyl Cysteine	Week 0 (Visit 1) - Week 3 (V2): 1200mg/day (600mg po qam and 600mg po qpm) Week 3 (V2) - Week 6 (V3): 2400mg/day (1200mg po qam and 1200mg po qpm) Week 6 (V4) - Week 12 (V5): 3000mg/day (1200mg po qam and 1800mg po qpm)
DRUG	Placebo	Matching placebo capsules taken in same amount of pills as the active medication.

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-09-01
• Primary completion: 2015-07-01
• Completion: 2015-07-01
• First posted: 2010-02-05
• Last updated: 2023-02-23
• Results posted: 2016-10-31

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States