Study suggests anesthetic agent may have rapid antidepressa...( ived the ketamine (one dropped out of t...),Health

ived the ketamine (one dropped out of the study after receiving only the placebo infusion) responded to the drug and 29 percent met criteria for remission from depression, compared with none who received the placebo. Thirty-five percent of those who received ketamine had effects that lasted for at least one week. "To our knowledge, there has never been a report of any other drug or somatic treatment (i.e., sleep deprivation, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, antidepressant, dexamethasone or electroconvulsive therapy) that results in such a dramatic rapid and prolonged response within a single administration," the authors write. No serious adverse events occurred during the study.

Most currently available antidepressants work by increasing the levels of chemicals in the brain known as monoamines, including serotonin and dopamine, the authors write. Over time, this accumulation of chemicals acts to improve a patient's mood. However, ketamine directly targets a different brain pathway--the glutamatergic system, which is important to learning and memory. "This line of research holds considerable promise for developing new treatments for depression with the potential to alleviate much of the morbidity and mortality associated with the delayed onset of action of traditional antidepressants," the authors conclude. "Future studies need to be carried out in an attempt to develop strategies for maintaining the rapid antidepressant response obtained with ketamine long-term." (Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63:856-864. Available pre-embargo to the media at http://www.jamamedia.org.)

'"/>

Contact: Susan Cahill
301-443-4536
JAMA and Archives Journals
7-Aug-2006

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Study, meta-analysis examine factors associated with death from heatstroke
2. Study says COPD testing is not measuring up
3. Study suggests loss of 2 types of neurons -- not just 1 -- triggers Parkinsons symptoms
4. Study reveals gaps in vaccine financing for underinsured children
5. Study suggests nonpharmaceutical interventions may be helpful in severe influenza outbreaks
6. Study shows radiofrequency ablation highly effective in treating kidney tumors
7. Study says normal but out-of-control enzyme may be culprit that signals some cells to become cancer
8. Study finds HIV protease inhibitor drugs may adversely affect the scaffolding of the cell nucleus
9. Study outlines how stroke, head injury can increase risk of Alzheimers disease
10. Study identifies new regulator of fat metabolism
11. Study shows Diachrome improves blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes