Abstract Background Low dose ketamine has been shown, in animal studies, to enhance firing activity of norepinephrine neurons in the locus coeruleus, and burst as well as population activity of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area [1]. These brainstem monoamine nuclei densely innervate the PFC, where clinical studies have shown a facilitation of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the...
Antidepressant effects with sub-anesthetic doses of intravenous ketamine have been previously demonstrated. However, previous studies have primarily evaluated the efficacy of acute treatment protocols, with limited research on maintenance treatment. Moreover, controlled maintenance studies have only included patients with treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder (TRD), with no maintenance...
Chronic stress is a risk factor for depression and may contribute to treatment resistance. This historical cohort study examined the association between baseline perceived stress, measured with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and response to (es) ketamine in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Adult TRD patients who received intravenous racemic ketamine or intranasal esketamine were...
Approximately 30 % of patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) respond to ketamine; however, no replicable predictors of response have been reported. The imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmissions may be implicated in the mechanism of action of ketamine. This study aimed to evaluate whether the ratio of glutamate and glutamine (Glx) to GABA levels at baseline in...
Introduction and Background Patients with depression who fail to respond to at least two antidepressants in their current episode are considered to have Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD). ECT is an effective treatment of TRD but cognitive side effects limit its use. Ketamine elicits a rapid antidepressant response in sub-anesthetic repeated doses. ECT and ketamine may be modulating the...
We read a recent article published by CNN titled “Ketamine offers lifeline for people with severe depression, suicidal thoughts1” with great interest. The article traces the story of a man with a 35-year history of severe refractory depression, suicidal ideation, and recent suicide attempts who was successfully treated with ketamine as a last resort after failing dozens of other pharmacologic...
IMPORTANCE The comorbidity of major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is often treated inadequately. This study evaluated the impact of adding the opioid receptor blocker, naltrexone, to the NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, ketamine, for the treatment of MDD comorbid with AUD. In so doing, it also attempted to shed light on the contribution of opioid receptor...
Abstract This review systematically summarizes the research progress of ketamine and its interaction with specific brain regions in the context of neuropathic pain comorbid with depression. As a non-competitive inhibitor of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, Ketamine exerts complex mechanisms and controversial topic. The structure and function of NMDA receptors, as well as the binding sites...
Structured Abstract Importance Ketamine has well known dissociative, analgesic, and antidepressant properties, but it is unknown whether the neurophysiologic effects that are associated with these properties can be modulated separately from one another. Given prior studies that link specific cortical oscillations with specific therapeutic effects, it is likely that modulating selective aspects...
Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe condition marked by persistent sadness and functional impairment. While electrocompulsive therapy (ECT) is effective for treatment-resistant cases, the comparative effects of propofol and ketamine as anesthetic agents remain unclear. Objective: To compare the effects of propofol and ketamine anesthesia on depression severity in patients...