This Week in Ketamine: New Studies Explore Its Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action | ISHA Health

I picked up four articles this week including DB RTC of low-dose ketamine infusion for TRD with SI, a case report about ketamine for PTSD/TBI in a special forces patient, ketamine reducing the neural distinction between self and other produced affective touch, and SERT-nNOS interaction blockers (SNIBs)

1. A Randomized Double-Blind Midazolam-Controlled Trial of Low-Dose Ketamine Infusion in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression and Prominent Suicidal Ideation

• The study found that ketamine was more likely to achieve therapeutic response when given earlier in the course of treatment.
• The study compared the effects of ketamine versus normal saline infusion in eight patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and severe treatment refractoriness.
• The results suggest that low-dose ketamine infusion may be an effective treatment for TRD with prominent suicidal ideation.

2. Efficacy of combined subanesthetic ketamine infusion and cervical sympathetic blockade as a symptomatic treatment of PTSD/TBI in a special forces patient with a 1 year follow up

• The study examined the use of ketamine for treating complications that emerge after blast injury.
• The results suggest that ketamine administration following TBI may provide benefits.

3. Ketamine reduces the neural distinction between self-and other-produced affective touch-a double-blind placebo-controlled study

• The study investigated the effects of ketamine on interoceptive awareness.
• The results indicate that ketamine reduces the neural distinction between self-and other-produced affective touch.
• The study suggests that ketamine may disrupt the self-experience.

4. Decoupling SERT-nNOS Interaction to Generate Fast-Onset Antidepressants

• The study compared the effects of regulated ketamine with a new compound called ZZL-7.
• The results suggest that ZZL-7 may be a more easily regulated and effective antidepressant than ketamine.
• The study highlights the potential for new compounds to be developed based on the mechanism of action of ketamine.

For those already familiar with the potential benefits of ketamine for mental health, the latest studies continue to show promising results. One recent randomized, double-blind trial found that low-dose ketamine infusions may be effective for treating treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation. Another study explored the use of subanesthetic ketamine infusion and cervical sympathetic blockade for treating PTSD/TBI in a special forces patient. A third study investigated the neural effects of ketamine on self- and other-produced affective touch. Finally, a new study looked at the mechanisms of action behind fast-acting antidepressants and found that decoupling the SERT-nNOS interaction may be key to generating such drugs. Together, these studies provide valuable insights into the potential therapeutic applications of ketamine and help further our understanding of how it works in the brain.

Reference. 

1. Su TP, Li CT, Lin WC, Wu HJ, Tsai SJ, Bai YM, Mao WC. A Randomized Double-Blind Midazolam-Controlled Trial of Low-Dose Ketamine Infusion in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression and Prominent Suicidal Ideation. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 2023 Mar 1;26(3):221-8.
2. Lipov E, Sethi Z, Nandra G, Frueh C. Efficacy of combined subanesthetic ketamine infusion and cervical sympathetic blockade as a symptomatic treatment of PTSD/TBI in a special forces patient with a 1 … Heliyon. 2023 Mar 1;9(3):e08586.
3. Kaldewaij R, Salamone P, Enmalm A, Östman L, Olausson H, Crockford C, Bartels A. Ketamine reduces the neural distinction between self-and other-produced affective touch-a double-blind placebo-controlled study. bioRxiv. 2023 Jan 1.
4. Ye Q, Lin SS, Ulrich H, Tang Y. Decoupling SERT-nNOS Interaction to Generate Fast-Onset Antidepressants. Neuroscience Bulletin. 2023 Mar 1:1-12.

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