The American journal of gastroenterology
October 1, 2019
Davood Tarzi, Jyoti Pradhananga
INTRODUCTION: Recreational ketamine abuse can present with a unique constellation of symptoms, and limited literature on this topic makes this case a rare learning opportunity. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 37-year-old male with diffuse psoriasis and a one-year-history of ketamine inhalation presented to the ER complaining of recurrent episodes of epigastric pain. The pain was described as...
Journal of Addictions Nursing
October 1, 2019
William J Lorman
Treatment resistant depression is a common and burdensome condition with poor outcomes and few treatment options. Approximately one third of patients with major depressive disorder are treatment resistant to the current antidepressants. In addition, depression in patients with bipolar disorder is typically poorly responsive to antidepressants. And so, there is an unmet need for rapidly acting...
Neuropharmacology
October 1, 2019
Samuel Kohtala, Wiebke Theilmann, Marko Rosenholm et al.
Subanesthetic rather than anesthetic doses are thought to bring the rapid antidepressant effects of the NMDAR (N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor) antagonist ketamine. Among molecular mechanisms, activation of BDNF receptor TrkB along with the inhibition of GSK3β (glycogen synthase kinase 3β) are considered as critical molecular level determinants for ketamine's antidepressant effects....
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
October 1, 2019
2 citations
A five‐week trial involving 55 participants has concluded that a single infusion of ketamine in combination with a course of mindfulness‐based psychotherapy was more effective than midazolam with therapy in limiting craving and maintaining abstinence among individuals with cocaine dependence. The researchers found that participants receiving ketamine were 53% less likely to drop out of...
September 30, 2019
Ketamine’s antidepressant effects, previously thought to involve the NMDA receptor, may be produced through the opioid system (because blocking opiate receptors with naltrexone blocked the antidepressant effect).
Cells
September 24, 2019
Alessandra Grossert, N. Mehrjardi, S. Bailey et al.
The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine offers promising perspectives for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Although ketamine demonstrates rapid and long-lasting effects, even in treatment-resistant patients, to date, the underlying mode of action remains elusive. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of ketamine at clinically...
Human Brain Mapping
September 18, 2019
Norman Zacharias, Francesco Musso, Felix Müller et al.
70 citations
In resting-state functional connectivity experiments, a steady state (of consciousness) is commonly supposed. However, recent research has shown that the resting state is a rather dynamic than a steady state. In particular, changes of vigilance appear to play a prominent role. Accordingly, it is critical to assess the state of vigilance when conducting pharmacodynamic studies with resting-state...
Pharmaceuticals
September 11, 2019
Brittany O’brien, Marijn Lijffijt, Allison Wells et al.
Childhood maltreatment is associated with a poor treatment response to conventional antidepressants and increased risk for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NDMAR) antagonist ketamine has been shown to rapidly improve symptoms of depression in patients with TRD. It is unknown if childhood maltreatment could influence ketamine’s treatment response. We...
Behavioural Brain Research
September 2, 2019
M L Shawn Bates, Keith A Trujillo
Initiation of ketamine use often occurs in adolescence, yet little is known about long-term consequences when use begins in this developmental period. The current experiments were designed to examine the effects of repeated exposure to ketamine in adolescence on behavior in adulthood. We examined locomotor activity, as well as cognitive function, in animals that received repeated administration...
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
September 1, 2019
Esketamine nasal spray in combination with a newly initiated antidepressant was more effective than a new antidepressant plus placebo in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with treatment‐resistant depression, a Phase 3 study has found. Esketamine, the S‐enantiomer of ketamine, recently received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treatment‐resistant depression in adults. Study...