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Ketamine in neuropsychiatric disorders: an update
Jenessa N Johnston1, Bashkim Kadriu2,3, Christoph Kraus2,4
1Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. johnstonjenessa@gmail.com.
Summary
Ketamine offers rapid antidepressant effects within days, revolutionizing neuropsychiatric treatment. Research explores its use in various disorders, targeting symptoms like anxiety and suicidal ideation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Ketamine's discovery marked a shift towards rapid-acting antidepressants.
- Subanesthetic ketamine and esketamine show promise for depression, anxiety, and other disorders.
- Ketamine targets core symptoms like anhedonia and suicidal ideation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review ketamine pharmacology and mechanisms in clinical research.
- Compare racemic ketamine, enantiomers, and metabolites (HNK).
- Discuss clinical use, efficacy in psychiatric disorders, and novel therapeutic insights.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of ketamine's pharmacology and clinical research.
- Comparative analysis of ketamine, esketamine, and HNK mechanisms.
- Synthesis of clinical application data and neuroimaging findings.
Main Results:
- Ketamine provides rapid antidepressant effects, unlike traditional treatments.
- Esketamine and racemic ketamine share mechanisms but differ in efficacy.
- Ketamine shows potential across diverse neuropsychiatric conditions and chronic pain.
Conclusions:
- Ketamine represents a significant advancement in neuropsychiatric therapeutics.
- Understanding ketamine's mechanisms informs future treatment development.
- Further research is warranted for optimizing ketamine's clinical application.
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