Ketamine’s rapid action and diverse physiological effects have made it an important drug in both anesthesia and mental health treatment. Clinically, it offers unique dissociative anesthetic properties, preserving stable vital signs during sedation and analgesia. Beyond its numbing effect, studies explore its influence on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and wider neurochemical systems...
Cerebrolysin (CBL), a peptide derived from pig brain, is recognized for its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. This research aimed to investigate the effects of CBL on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, spatial memory, the tryptophan/kynurenine (TRP/KYN) pathway, and inflammation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of a mouse model for schizophrenia. Thirty-six male BALB/c mice...
This study aims to investigate the acute and sustained antidepressant effects of repeated ketamine infusions in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and to identify early metabolomic changes predictive of treatment outcomes using metabolome analyses. This open-label study investigated the effects of four intravenous ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg) administered over 2 weeks in 30...
The endogenous opioid system is thought to play a role in the placebo antidepressant response. A recent trial comparing the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine versus placebo in surgical patients, some of whom were on chronic opioid therapy, revealed a substantial placebo effect. This finding provided an opportunity to test the hypothesis that opioid agonist exposure interacts with placebo...
Ketamine and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are among the recommended treatments for treatment resistant depression (TRD). However, there is a subset of patients who do not respond to either treatment, making it insufficient to address their condition. To determine the efficacy of concurrent therapy with ECT and intravenous racemic ketamine in TRD. This retrospective study included a total of...
Depression and PTSD are prevalent psychiatric conditions that often co-occur and significantly impact quality of life. Ketamine has emerged as a promising rapid-acting treatment for both conditions, while traditional treatments like psychotherapy typically require weeks to show effects. This study investigated whether combining ketamine with psychotherapy produces greater symptom improvement...
Depression affects hundreds of millions globally, and in 2019, esketamine, an S-enantiomer of ketamine, was approved for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). While effective, esketamine carries risks, including abuse potential and adverse effects even at low doses. As a result, ketamine's metabolite, (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine ((2R,6R)-HNK), has garnered attention for its potential...
Ketamine is a synthesized anesthetic drug that was used extensively as a surgical anesthetic in the 1960s. Currently, ketamine is being investigated extensively for its potential as a treatment for depression. However, the addictive nature of ketamine has become an issue that cannot be ignored at this stage. As of now, there is no clear understanding of the changes in striatal metabolites and...
Após concluir esta atividade, os participantes deverão ser capazes de: Analisar os mecanismos farmacodinâmicos da cetamina, incluindo sua ação primária como antagonista do receptor NMDA e efeitos secundários sobre os receptores AMPA, sistemas opioides e vias de neuroplasticidade, a fim de otimizar a seleção do tratamento para pacientes com depressão resistente ao tratamento. Avaliar cenários...
After completing this activity, participants should be able to: Analyze the pharmacodynamic mechanisms of ketamine, including its primary action as an NMDA receptor antagonist and secondary effects on AMPA receptors, opioid systems, and neuroplasticity pathways, to optimize treatment selection for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Evaluate clinical scenarios to determine when...