Work

Ketamine and Rapid-Acting Antidepressants: A Window into a New Neurobiology for Mood Disorder Therapeutics

Year: 2014

Type: review

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.

Source: Annual Review of Medicine

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-med-053013-062946

Authors: Chadi G. Abdallah, Gerard Sanacora, Ronald S. Duman, John H. Krystal

Institutions: Yale University, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Connecticut Mental Health Center

Language: English

Topic: Treatment of Major Depression

Subfield: Pharmacology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze