Existing studies predominantly focus on the molecular and neurobiological mechanisms underlying Ketamine's acute treatment effects on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This emphasis has largely overlooked its sustained therapeutic effects, which hold significant potential for the development of targeted interventions. This systematic review examines the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic...
CNS DrugsJune 1, 2025Sijia Zhang, Houtan Afshar, Peter J. Colvonen et al.1 citation
Ketamine and esketamine are increasingly used to manage treatment-resistant depression and have also been shown to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Little is known about how common comorbidities in the veteran population, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), may influence ketamine and esketamine treatment outcomes. In this retrospective...
Abstract Background Ketamine has emerged as a rapid-acting therapeutic option for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, its ability to sustain long-term therapeutic outcomes remains poorly understood. Identifying molecular biomarkers predictive of a sustained response to ketamine may enhance personalised treatment strategies. This study investigates the epigenetic and transcriptomic...
Ketamine’s rapid acting symptom relief make it a promising intervention for PTSD. However, the mechanisms driving its long-term efficacy over weeks and months remain poorly understood. This study investigated the short-and long-term impacts on gene expression of a six-week subanesthetic oral ketamine trial in 23 PTSD participants (9 males, 14 females). Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)...
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI) in a Special Operations Forces (SOF) cohort has been shown to be successfully treated using a cervical sympathetic blockade (CSB)/ketamine infusion (KI) combination, termed the SOF method. In a prior case report, the patient was followed for 1 year. This report followed the same patient for a total of 720 days and found...
Objective: This open-label clinical trial examined the preliminary efficacy of combining a course of 6 ketamine infusions with a brief, evidence-based exposure-based psychotherapy-written exposure therapy (WET)-in patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: The trial was conducted between June 2021 and October 2023. Patients with chronic PTSD and high-moderate to severe...
IntroductionFirefighters face routine occupational risks and high-stress environments. Accordingly, 96.4% are exposed to a potentially traumatizing event throughout their career (Nazari et al. Work 2020; 67(1):215-222). This is accompanied by high rates of trauma-related mental illnesses (TRMI) such as PTSD. First-line treatments of TRMI remain limited. A novel treatment that has emerged,...
Ketamine has been investigated as a treatment alternative for PTSD for the last 20 years, yet there have been virtually no reports of biological changes or biomarker characterisation related to treatment. To address this significant gap, this study analysed blood samples from 25 participants with PTSD who took part in an open-label 6-week trial of low dose oral ketamine treatment. Serum and...
This analysis sought to identify potential clinical targets for the suicide crisis. Characteristics of a useful clinical target include elevation at the time of suicide crisis and responsiveness to rapid-acting interventions. Suicidal ideation (SI), depression, and hopelessness were hypothesized to meet these criteria. Participants were 118 adults across the continuum of suicide risk, including...
Military MedicineFebruary 27, 2025Eugene Lipov, Hunter Rolain, Troy Neufeld1 citation
Canadian Special Operation Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) operators have been extensively deployed in recent conflicts. They are at risk of trauma and blast exposure as well as the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI). Current psychotherapy and pharmacological approaches provide suboptimal resolution of PTSD and bTBI symptoms. Prior research...