ReviewCureus2025
Impact of Nitrous Oxide on Neuropsychiatric Impairment in Adolescents: A Scoping Review.
Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Chronic Nitrous Oxide Exposure Disrupts Metabolism in Mice: A Plasma Untargeted Metabolomics Study.Metabolites · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Nitrous oxide (N₂O) misuse represents a growing public health issue, particularly among adolescents and young adults, who use it recreationally. This scoping review investigates recent and foundational studies on the long-term neuropsychiatric effects associated with prolonged and frequent use of this volatile gas. Various clinical databases and journal archives, such as those of the Journal of Addiction Medicine, Journal of Child Psychiatry, Journal of Anesthesiology, Science Direct, and National Survey of Drug Use and Health, were queried for clinical trials, case reports, and public health surveys. Emphasis was placed on studies exploring the neurobiological mechanisms, epidemiological trends, clinical manifestations, and treatment strategies associated with chronic N₂O exposure. The search revealed epidemiological factors like low socioeconomic status, peer influence, and concurrent use of alcohol or cannabis increased the likelihood of N₂O misuse. Biomechanically, N₂O acts via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) receptor antagonism and endogenous opioid release, altering neurotransmitter dynamics and leading to potential dependence. Chronic use disrupts vitamin B12 metabolism by oxidizing methylcobalamin, impairing myelin production,n and leading to subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord. Neuroimaging studies reveal deactivation of the hippocampus and visual cortices, aligning with observed memory and sensory processing deficits. Psychiatric complications such as depression, delusions, and agitation are frequently reported in adolescent users. Early intervention through cessation, vitamin B12 supplementation, and emerging pharmacologic agents such as naltrexone and aripiprazole can mitigate adverse outcomes. Public health initiatives such as educational campaigns, legislative control, and school-based prevention programs are critical to curbing ongoing misuse. Despite increasing attention, significant gaps remain in understanding long-term outcomes, effective treatments, and global epidemiological patterns. Further research is essential to develop evidence-based clinical guidelines and preventative strategies tailored to this at-risk population.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.