This review (2014) examines the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ketamine, summarizes the neurobiology of depression, reviews the mechanisms underlying the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine, and discusses the prospects for next-generation rapid-acting antidepressants.
Abstract
“Ketamine is the prototype for a new generation of glutamate-based antidepressants that rapidly alleviate depression within hours of treatment. Over the past decade, there has been replicated evidence demonstrating the rapid and potent antidepressant effects of ketamine in treatment-resistant depression. Moreover, preclinical and biomarker studies have begun to elucidate the mechanism underlying the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine, offering a new window into the biology of depression and identifying a plethora of potential treatment targets. This article discusses the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ketamine, summarizes the neurobiology of depression, reviews the mechanisms underlying the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine, and discusses the prospects for next-generation rapid-acting antidepressants.”
Authors: Chadi G. Abdallah, Gerard Sanacora, Ronald S. Duman & John H. Krystal
Summary of Ketamine and Rapid-Acting Antidepressants
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Rapid-acting antidepressants with robust efficacy are urgently needed in patients who are refractory to traditional antidepressants.
Ketamine is a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist used for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. It has been shown to rapidly alleviate depressive symptoms in severely treatment-resistant depressed patients and display efficacy in patients who are refractory to currently available treatments.
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https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-med-053013-062946
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Study details
Compounds studied
Ketamine
Topics studied
Depression
Neuroscience
Study characteristics
Literature Review