Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: Treatment-resistant depression is a pleomorphic phenomenon occurring in 30% of patients with depression. The chance to achieve remission decreases with every subsequent episode. It constitutes a significant part of the global disease burden, causes increased morbidity and mortality, and is associated with poor quality of life. It involves multiple difficult-to-treat episodes, with increasing resistance over time. The concept of staging captures the process of changes causing increasing treatment resistance and global worsening of functioning in all areas of life. Ketamine is a novel rapid-acting antidepressant with neuroplastic potential. Here, we argue that ketamine use as an add-on treatment of resistant major depressive disorder, based on its unique pharmacological properties, can reverse this process, give hope to patients, and prevent therapeutic nihilism.
Authors: Alina Wilkowska, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała
Institution: Gdańsk Medical University
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,408
Funder: Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny
Award: G1991687472
OpenAlex ID: W4309830230